Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Wharton.
Washington, June 11, 1891.
Sir: With reference to my note of yesterday, and especially to the concluding part of it, I have the honor to inform you that I have this day received by telegraph from the Marquis of Salisbury a reply to the proposal for a modus vivendi during the present fur-seal fishery season in Behring Sea, contained in your note of June 9.
His lordship states that the President’s refusal to adopt his suggestions with respect to Russia renders the proposed modus vivendi much less valuable, and that he is reluctant to abandon the words which he had proposed for insertion in article 2 in relation to the reservation of the 7,500 seals to be killed on the islands.
Nevertheless, in view of the urgency of the case, his lordship is disposed to authorize me to sign the agreement in the precise terms formulated in your note of June 9, provided the question of a joint commission be not left in doubt and that your Government will give an assurance in some form that they will concur in a reference to a joint commission to ascertain what permanent measures are necessary for the preservation of the fur-seal species in the northern Pacific Ocean.
I have the honor, therefore, to inquire whether the President is prepared to give that assurance, and, if so, I shall, on receipt of it, lose no time in communicating it by telegraph to Lord Salisbury and in applying Jo his lordship for authority to sign the proposed agreement.
I have, etc.,