Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Wharton.
Washington, October 13, 1891.
My Dear Mr. Wharton: On receipt of your letter of yesterday, asking for a reply to your note of July 23 last, containing a form of clause proposed by your Government to be inserted in the Behring Sea arbitration agreement to settle the long-debated question of damages, I telegraphed to Lord Salisbury for further instructions, informing him of the substance of your communication.
I understand that his lordship is expected in London this week from the south of Europe, and I shall probably, therefore, receive an answer to my telegram before many days.
Although, as you observe, more than ten weeks have elapsed since the date of your official note above referred to, I need hardly remind you that the intervening time has been taken up with informal discussions between us with a view to finding a solution of the difficulty without unduly lengthening the official correspondence. This informal interchange of views, which, no doubt, had the approval of the President, has not “been without advantage in throwing light on the troublesome question which still impedes the conclusion of the agreement, and I now hope I may soon be in a position to resume the official correspondence.
Very truly yours,