No. 28.
Mr. Bayard to Mr. Hubbard.

No. 171.]

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatches Nos. 388 and 393, dated, respectively, September 29 and October 10, and in reply to express the satisfaction of this Department at the favorable response of the Japanese Government to negotiate for the protection of the seal fisheries in Behring Sea.

The Department hopes to be able, at an early day, to instruct you further on the subject. At present, owing doubtless to the shortness of the time, few replies have been received from foreign governments to the circular invitation of the United States in this regard. And it is thought desirable to await for a time further responses, which might affect the course of the negotiations.

I am, etc.,

T. F. Bayard.