Mr. Bayard to Mr. Gresham.
London, February 21, 1894. (Received March 2.)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge yours of the 26th ultimo*, inclosing a copy of your correspondence with the British Ambassador at Washington, in relation to the enforcement of the award of the tribunal at Paris, and a draft of a proposed convention to effect this purpose.
[Page 147]Reflection but confirms the opinion which I have heretofore communicated to you (and in which I am happy to find that you so fully concur that the first and essential step is the frank, clear, and explicit acceptance by the two governments of the letter and spirit of the decrees of the tribunal.
The importance of accepting the award ipsissimis verbis is to prevent a new and different treaty from being substituted for the treaty of February, 1892, and its sequel, the award of the tribunal in August. 1893 These two documents must be kept and considered together as essential and inseparable parts of the same transaction, and the award expressly recites the treaty of February, 1892, one feature of which was the distinct covenant to accept whatever decision might be reached by the arbitrators and enact laws to carry it into effect and procure the adhesion of other nations to the result.
But I will not repeat further what I have heretofore in this correspondence had the honor to state on this subject.
I inclose herewith copies of a report* just made to Parliament by the British agent at Tokyo (M. de Bunsen), which throws a good deal of light upon the proceedings of the pelagic sealers in the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean, and which indicates impressively the necessity for prompt action by Great Britain and her North American dependencies and the United States, to compel by adequate and penal legislation obedience by their respective citizens to the regulations decreed by the Tribunal of Arbitration, a duty which can not be honorably avoided or delayed.
I have, etc.,