Mr. Adam to Mr. Sherman.
Manchester, Mass., July 30, 1897.
Sir: With reference to your note No. 713 of the 28th ultimo, and to previous correspondence respecting sealing regulations in Bering Sea, in which you proposed, on behalf of the United States Government, that the regulations controlling American sealing vessels during the season of 1897 should be adapted to British vessels, I have now the honor to inform you, in compliance with an instruction received this day from the Marquis of Salisbury, that Her Majesty’s Government regret that they are unable to accept the proposal in question.
So far as the sealing up of arms is concerned, Her Majesty’s Government are of opinion that the certificate of a British custom-house officer, declaring that there are no firearms on board a vessel, constitutes in itself a sufficient guaranty. Such certificates are already carried by most British sealing vessels.
Nevertheless, instructions have been transmitted to the officers of the patrolling fleet, directing them to seal up the arms and ammunition of any British vessel which may apply to them for the purpose, and at the same time to enter the fact upon the vessel’s log.
I have, etc.,