No. 31.
Mr. Hubbard to Mr. Bayard.

No. 492.]

Sir: Referring to the correspondence which has taken place between the Department of State and this legation concerning a proposed convention between the United States and Japan and some other powers, looking to the protection of the fur-seal fisheries in Behring Sea, I have the honor to inclose a copy of a note, dated July 9, from the Japanese minister of foreign affairs, inquiring as to the nature of the consultation now being conducted at London on this subject, with a view of instructing the Japanese minister at London to take part in said consultation provided it has assumed the nature of an international conference in which the views of the several powers interested may be interchanged.

The note from Count Okuma and my reply to the same, also herewith inclosed, fully explain themselves, and are forwarded to the Department with the view of eliciting such reply as may be desired advisable in the premises.

There is no doubt that the Nemo affair, to which I had the honor to refer in my dispatch No. 491 of this date, has had the effect of increasing Japan’s interest in the proposed convention and her desire to see it concluded at an early day.

I have, etc.,

Richard B. Hubbard.
[Page 1852]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 492—Translation.]

Count Okuma to Mr. Hubbard.

Sir: With reference to the proposal of your Government to enter into a proper arrangement for the purpose of preventing by international co-operation indiscriminate and unregulated destruction of fur seals in the Behring Sea, the views of the Imperial Government having been communicated to you, your Government intimated that they would approach the subject again upon receipt of responses from the powers consulted, and consequently the Imperial Government have been awaiting further communication from your Government.

In the mean time it has recently been reported to the Imperial Government that the United States minister at London is holding consultation with Her British Majesty’s pi-incipal secretary for foreign affairs and the diplomatic representatives of some other power or powers interested in respect to certain matters bearing upon the subject.

The Imperial Government are not aware of the nature of the question under discussion. If, however, the negotiation has actually assumed the character of an international convention, in which the views of the several powers interested may be formally interchanged, the Imperial Government would desire to instruct their representative at London to take part in such negotiation.

I therefore beg leave to request that you will be so good as to ascertain the truth of the report and to communicate to me the result of your inquiry.

I avail myself, etc.,

Count Shigenobu Okuma.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 492.]

Mr. Hubbard to Count Okuma.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note No. 25, of the 7th insiant, in which, referring to the subject of the proposed arrangement between the Governments of the United States and Japan and some other powers, looking to the protection of the fur-seal fisheries in Behring Sea, your excellency informs me that it has been reported to the Imperial Government that the United States minister at London is holding consultation with Her British Majesty’s principal secretary for foreign affairs and the diplomatic representatives of some other powers interested, in respect to certain matters bearing upon the subject. Your excellency further states that if the negotiations have assumed the character of an internationa-conference, in which the views of the several powers interested may be formally inl terchanged, the Imperial Government would desire to instruct their representative at London to take part in such negotiations; and you request me to ascertain the truth of the report referred to, and to communicate the result of my inquiry to your department.

In reply I have the honor to say to your excellency that by the mail leaving for the United States on or about June 20 I had the honor, as suggested by the verbal and informal inquiry of the foreign office, to address a dispatch to the honorable the Sec retary of State of my Government, requesting to be advised of the present status of the negotiations of the proposed convention; and in pursuance of the subject I will by the next mail leaving for the United States forward a copy of your excellency’s note, with the request that my Government will furnish me with full information respecting the progress of the negotiations.

In this connection I beg to say to your excellency that I have been informed informally and unofficially by the representatives at Tokio of one of the powers interested in the said negotiations, that he was in receipt of information to the effect that the consultation now being conducted at London is of a purely preliminary character.

I am fully persuaded that the consultation to which your excellency refers is of the same nature as has already taken place between the United States minister at Tokio and the Japanese foreign office; and I beg to repeat to your excellency what I have already had the honor to assure your Department on previous occasions, that a final decision will not be reached in this matter of the proposed convention until the Imperial Government has been fully advised and has had ample opportunity to express its views in the premises.

I avail, etc.,

Richard B. Hubbard.