Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-02
lordship was disposed to consider the
proposal favorably.

proposal favoraOiy.
"At an interview at your residence,
23d April" continued the minister,
''you expressed satisfaction at Lord Sal
isbury's reply, and stated that before
taking further steps you desired to COM
municate, by telegraph, with the presi-
dent. At further interview, at your
residence, on the 9th, you informed me
that the president desired that the
modus vivendi should contain the reser-
walton of the right to kill certain num-
ber of seals for the support of the ma
tives, etc. At first sight this reserva-
tion caused me some disappointment it
certainly appeared open TO exception as
detracting from the principles of equity
which was the original proposal. was
concerned at your stating that it was
never the intention OF the president and
yourself that the modus vivendi should
be put in force until the arbitration
terms were settled. This, I feared,
would prevent the timely application of
the modus vivendi, and 1 notice with
satisfaction that no such condition is
affixed to your present proposal al
though the reservation as to the killing
of limited number of seals is main
tanned. / think there is yet time to
carry out for this season any arrange
ment which may be promptly agreed to-"
On May Goth Acting Secretary Adee
addressed personal note to the British
minister, requesting q reply of her mai
esty's government. On May 26th he
sent another note to the same effect,
saying the president was anxious for an
early response. 1.-The situation" he
added, "calls for prompt action. A large
feet of Canadian sealers has been for
some weeks or months on the seas.
They are daily going further out of the
reach OF the revenue cutters, which are
awaiting definite orders. Their presence
is urgently needed in Bering sea, and
any further delay tends to defeat
the very purpose for which the
agreement is sought. 1t squite incom
patible with fairness and justice to our
citizens that this should be permitted to
continue. Ample opportunity has been
afforded her 1iiajesty's government to
bring this condition TO a close by an ef
fectiye' agreement, but the result is still
remote. The president would be glad
to know that it is neara hand and GER
tain, but he can no longer hold back in
the furtheranee of a vague hope, to the
detriment OF the legitimate interests OF
the government and the citizens of the
United States. a1as
II am, therefore, directed by the pres
ident," continues Mr.. Adee, ''to inform
you that orders have been given to the
revenue steamer Rush to proceed to the
sealing islands. Another revenue
steamer, the Corwin, is at San Francisco
nearly ready to sail, and will very shortly
put to sea. Should an agreement be
reached before her departure, appropri-
ate orders may still be sent by her to the
Islands. l mention this in order that
you may comprehend how fully thisgov
ernment desires to effect an arrangement
for this season, and that you may realize
how q days delay lessons the ability of
her majesty q government to effectively
cooperate with regard to British sub
jects, and tends TO destroy the practical
utility of the agreement to limit seal |
catching"
On the 9th OF May Sir Julian replied |
to Mr.. Adee that he had communicated |
the letter to Lord Salisbury by cable. !
II feel assured, = he adds, "that his
lordship will greatly regret any incon-
venience which may, be caused your |
government by the: impracticability of |
an immediate reply to the |
contained in Mr. Blaine's note |
of the 9Th inst. Lord Salisbury, as |
had the honor to state to you verbally,
is using the utmost expedition but the
lateness of the proposal, and the condi-
tions attached to it, have given rise to
grave difficulties, as to which his lord |
ship has necessarily been in commupi-
cation with the Canadian government.
His reply, however, may now arrive at |
any moment"