Mr. Adam to Mr. Sherman.
Washington, October 9, 1897.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note, No. 796, of the 7th instant, in reply to my two notes of the 22d ultimo and the 6th instant, respecting the inability of Her Majesty’s Government to accede to the proposal of the United States for the admission of delegates from Russia and Japan to the meeting of American, British, and Canadian experts to examine the condition of the seals frequenting the Pribilof Islands.
I did not fail to convey by telegraph yesterday to Her Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs a summary of your note, specially mentioning the readiness of the United States Government to meet during the present month such delegates as Her Majesty’s Government may nominate, for the object set forth in Lord Salisbury’s note of the 28th of July last to Mr. Hay, and I also transmitted a copy of the full text by post last night.
As this, however, can scarcely be delivered in London before the end of next week, and some little time must be allowed for its consideration by Her Majesty’s Government, I venture to point out that under the most favorable circumstances it will be almost impossible for any British delegate to arrive in Washington in time to attend a meeting before the end of the present month.
I have, etc.,