Mr. Zeballos to Mr. Gresham.
Washington, September 4, 1894.
Mr. Secretary of State: I have had, the honor to receive your excellency’s communication of the 20th ultimo relative to the rule established on the east coast of the North Pacific Ocean, from parallel 35 north latitude to Bering Strait, for the protection and preservation of far seals. Your excellency calls attention to Article VII of the treaty concluded between the United States of America and Great Britain on the 29th of February, 1892, whereby the high contracting parties agreed to endeavor to secure the adhesion of the other powers to the rules established by the arbitrators for the aforesaid purpose. Your excellency inclosed two copies of the decision and the declarations of the tribunal, and two copies of the law of Congress approved April 6, 1894. Your excellency concludes by courteously inviting the Government of the Argentine Republic to adhere to the rules established by the national legislation on the subject.
I shall be very happy to submit the note and the documents with which your excellency has honored me to the consideration of the Argentine Government.
It is proper for me to inform your excellency that the Argentine Congress will terminate its ordinary sessions, according to the national constitution, on the 30th day of the present month of September, so that if my Government decides to lay the matter before that body, as I do not doubt that it will, it cannot be acted upon before the first session of 1895.
I renew to your excellency, Mr. Secretary of State, the assurances of my highest consideration.