Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote.
Washington, May 12, 1892.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of yesterday suggesting that the memorandum which I placed in your hands on the 23d ultimo, respecting the instructions to be issued to naval officers charged with the enforcement of the modus vivendi in Behring Sea, under the convention of the 18th ultimo, be modified so as to authorize the naval officers to let a vessel go with warning if it is thought that the master is acting in ignorance of the prohibition or believes his ship to be outside of the line of demarcation.
In reply, I have the honor to inform you that this Government does not think it necessary to modify the instructions given to the naval officers of the United States. If a vessel is found in Behring Sea with a sealing outfit, the only safe course to take is to compel her to leave that sea, and this can only be effectively done by taking her out under convoy. This the United States officers are directed to do, and to turn such British vessels over to the British naval officer at Unalaska. If he chooses to take the responsibility of releasing such vessels, then it is his right to do so.
I have, etc.,