Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1894

Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Gresham.

Washington, July 30, 1894.

Sir: With reference to the identic note which it is proposed that the Governments of Great Britain and of the United States should address to the maritime powers inviting their adhesion to the Bering Sea regulations, I have the honor to submit for your consideration the accompanying list of powers to whom it is suggested by my Government that the identic note should be addressed. I should be glad to be informed whether the list meets with the approval of your Government, and, if so, of the date on which you would propose that the identic note should be issued.

I have, etc.,

Julian Pauncefote.

[Inclosure.]

Argentine Republic, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa, Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hawaii, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Peru, Portugal, Russia, San Salvador, Spain, Sweden and Norway, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Kimberley.

draft identic note to the maritime powers.

Sir: I have the honor to address you, under instructions from my Government, on the subject of the regulations established on the eastern side of the North Pacific Ocean, from the twenty-fifth degree of north latitude to the Bering Straits, for the proper protection and preservation of the fur-seal species.

Those regulations which are at present applicable only to the subjects or citizens of Great Britain and of the United States are prescribed by the award of the Tribunal of Arbitration constituted under Article I of the treaty concluded between those two powers at Washington on the 29th day of February, 1892. The preservation of the fur-seal species, however, being an object of interest and concern to the whole of the civilized world, the high contracting parties agreed, by Article VII of the above-mentioned treaty, to cooperate in securing the adhesion of other powers to such regulations as the arbitrators should deem necessary to carry out the purpose in view, having regard to the particular conditions of fur-seal hunting in the waters referred to.

The Governments of Great Britain and the United States of America have given effect by suitable legislation to the regulations prescribed by the award, and the time has therefore now arrived for inviting the adhesion of the other powers thereto. Accordingly, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the award setting out in substance the provisions of the treaty and prescribing the regulations in question. I have also the honor to transmit a copy of the British/United States act of Parliament/Congress passed to give effect to those regulations as regards British/United States vessels and subjects/citizens.

It only remains to me, on behalf of my Government and in execution of my instructions, to invite the adhesion of your Government to the regulations prescribed by the award with a view to their application to the vessels and subjects/citizens of your country and to their enforcement by appropriate national legislation.

My Government will be much gratified to learn that your nation is willing to support the efforts made by and the Great Britain/United States and the United States/Great Britain in so beneficent a cause.