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.
