Mr. Gresham to Mr. Bayard.
Great Britain still objects to a convention, and insists that award can be enforced by legislation. The President thinks convention necessary. The British ambassador suggested, a week ago, continuance of modus vivendi for another year. I replied the modus was only applicable to Bering Sea and suggested its renewal for another year, so enlarged, however, as to protect all the waters embraced in the second regulation, thus affording time for a treaty between United States, Great Britain, Russia, and Japan. The ambassador said he would telegraph this suggestion to his Government. To-day he informed me Great Britain did not favor such a modus, and I suggested a renewal of the existing modus for twelve months, with an added clause protecting the waters in the North Pacific embraced in the second regulation only during the months of May, June, and July, assuring the ambassador this Government could agree to nothing less.
The ambassador said it would be difficult to give notice to sealers which had already left their home ports, and it would be harsh to seize them without notice. I replied such sealers had left with knowledge of the award, and that both Governments were bound to enforce the regulations, and therefore contemplating that the regulations would be enforced and that we would see to giving our sealers notice, asking no immunity for them, and Great Britain could do the same. The ambassador said he would telegraph at once my last offer to his Government.
But little time remains for concurrent action contemplated by the award. This Government is not responsible for the delay, and if Great Britain declines the last offer of a temporary agreement, the situation will become embarrassing for both Governments.