Mr. Wharton to Sir Julian Pauncefote.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of today’s date, and in reply I am directed by the President to say that the Government of the United States, recognizing the fact that full and adequate measures for the protection of seal life should embrace the whole of Behring Sea and portions of the North Pacific Ocean, will have [Page 569] no hesitancy in agreeing, in connection with Her Majesty’s Government, to the appointment of a joint commission to ascertain what permanent measures are necessary for the preservation of the seal species in the waters referred to, such an agreement to be signed simultaneously with the convention for arbitration and to be without prejudice to the questions to be submitted to the arbitrators.

A full reply to your note of June 3, relating to the terms of arbitration, will not be long delayed.

I have, etc.,

William F. Wharton,
Acting Secretary.