Legation of The United States,
Berlin, September 1, 1887. (Received September
17.)
No. 498.]
[Inclosure with Mr. Coleman’s No.
498.]
Mr. Coleman
to Count von
Berchem.
Legation of the United States of
America,
Berlin, September 1,
1887.
No. 311.]
The undersigned, chargé d’affaires ad
interim of the United States of America, has the honor,
acting under instructions from his Government, to inform Count
von Berchem, under secretary of state in charge of the imperial
foreign office, that recent occurrences have drawn the attention
of that Government to the necessity of taking steps for the
better protection of the fur-seal fisheries in Behring Sea.
Without raising any question as to the exceptional measures which
the peculiar character of the property in question might justify
the Government of the United States in taking, and without
reference to any exceptional marine jurisdiction that might
properly be claimed for that end, it has been deemed advisable
to seek to attain the desired ends by international
co-operation.
It is well known that the unregulated and indiscriminate killing
of seals in many parts of the world has driven them from place
to place, and by breaking up their habitual resorts, has greatly
reduced their number.
Under these circumstances and in view of the common interest of
all nations in preventing the indiscriminate destruction and
consequent extermination of an animal which contributes so
importantly to the commercial wealth and general use of mankind,
the Government of the United States has instructed the
undersigned to present the subject to the attention of the
Imperial Government, and to invite it to enter into such an
arrangement with the Government of the United States as will
prevent the citizens of either country from killing seals in
Behring Sea at such times and places, and by such methods as at
present are pursued, and which threaten the speedy extermination
of those animals and consequent serious loss to mankind.
The undersigned begs to add that he has been informed by his
Government that the ministers of the United States to Sweden and
Norway, Russia, France, Great Britain, and Japan have been each
similarly addressed on the subject referred to, and avails
himself, etc.
