Mr. Wharton to Sir
Julian Pauncefote.
Department of State,
Washington, June 26,
1891.
Sir: In accordance with the request contained
in your note of the 21st instant, I have the honor to transmit to you
herewith a letter addressed by the Acting Secretary of the Treasury to
William H, Williams, [Page 576] esq.,
special agent in charge of the seal fisheries in Alaska, instructing him
to afford to Sir George Baden-Powell, M. P., and Prof. George Mercer
Dawson, agents of her Britannic Majesty to the Pribyloff Islands, the
facilities desired to enable them to examine into the fur-seal fisheries
in Behring Sea.
I have, etc.,
William F. Wharton,
Acting Secretary.
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Spaulding
to Mr. Williams.
Treasury Department,
Office of the
Secretary,
Washington, June 25,
1891.
Sir: The fourth section of the modus vivendi, respecting the fur-seal
fisheries in Behring Sea, concluded on the 15th instant, provides as
follows:
“In order to facilitate such proper inquiries as Her Majesty’s
Government may desire to make, with a view of the presentation of
the case of that Government before arbitrators, and in expectation
that an agreement for arbitration may be arrived at, it is agreed
that suitable persons designated by Great Britain will be permitted
at any time, upon application, to visit or to remain upon the seal
islands during the present sealing season for that purpose.”
As it appears from a communication, dated the 23d instant, from the
honorable the Secretary of State that Sir George Baden-Powell, M.
P., and Prof. George Mercer Dawson have been appointed commissioners
on behalf of her Britannic Majesty to proceed to the Pribyloff
Islands for the purpose of examining into the fur-seal fisheries in
Behring Sea, and that the British minister at this capital has
requested that the necessary permission may be granted to the
above-named gentlemen to visit and remain on the islands in question
during the current fishing season, you are directed to afford Sir
George Baden-Powell, M. P., and Prof. George Mercer Dawson every
facility to enable them to accomplish the object of their
mission.
Respectfully, yours,
O. L. Spaulding,
Acting Secretary.
