Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine.
Washington, February 11, 1892.
Sir: I had the honor to receive yesterday your note of the 9th instant, in which you state that you have been informed by the American seal commissioners that in an informal meeting with their British colleagues on the 8th instant, the latter expressed an unwillingness to enter upon conferences of any other than an official character, and they therefore proposed that their joint conferences be postponed until after the arbitration convention has been signed.
The British commissioners, to whom I communicated your note, have informed me that at the preliminary conference of the commissioners on the 8th instant they discussed with their colleagues what work of a preparatory character could be got through at once. The meeting was informal, according to the conditions laid down in the last paragraph in your note to me of the 4th instant, and it was arranged by the four commissioners to hold a second preliminary conference this day at the State Department at 3 o’clock, at which they could discuss certain matters, which they had undertaken to consider in the interval, and other preparatory work.
In consequence of your note of the 9th instant, the British commissioners hope at the conference to-day to arrange with their colleagues that the joint conference shall proceed to business formally.
I have, etc.,