Mr. Roosevelt to Mr. Olney.
London, July 3, 1895. (Received July 15.)
Sir: Referring to my dispatch, No. 472, of June 29, I have the honor to report that I have today had an interview with Lord Salisbury, Her Majesty’s secretary of state for foreign affairs, and read to him, as instructed, your No. 749, of the 18th of June, containing the formal protest of the United States Government against the action of the British naval authorities in releasing, without due judicial process, the British sealing schooners Wanderer and Favorite seized by the naval vessels of the United States during the season of 1894. Lord Salisbury desired me to leave with him a copy of the instruction, and said that the matter should have immediate attention.
During the conversation which ensued his lordship asked me several [Page 657] questions as to the present status of the regulations for the enforcement of the award of the Paris Tribunal of Arbitration and I took the opportunity of referring to the deep regret felt by the Government of the United States at the refusal (and especially at the tardy communication of such refusal) of the British Government to concur in the proposed regulations for the season of 1895 (drafted by the Secretary of the Treasury and Sir Julian Pauncefote in January last) in relation to the sealing up of firearms on board vessels desiring to traverse the area covered by the award during the close season.
I have, etc.,