Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1888, Part II

No. 46.
Sir L. S. Sackville West to Mr. Bayard.

Beverly, Mass., August 6, 1888. (Received August 8.)

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that Her Majesty’s Government have received intelligence to the effect that four British ships seized last year in Behring Sea are being taken to Port Townsend for sale by the United States authorities. It would seem that this action has been taken in consequence of the judge of the district court of Alaska having refused to bond the owners, upon the ground that their application was too late.

The Marquis of Salisbury has now requested rue to ask the United States Government to postpone the sale of the said vessels pending the settlement of the question of the legality of the seizure.

I have, etc.,

L. S. Sackville West.