Mr. Peirce to Mr. Hay.
St. Petersburg, October 23, 1899.
[Mr. Peirce reports the adherence of the Russian Government to the protocol of the Russian minister of foreign affairs relative to the arbitration of the Bering Sea cases, and the suggestion that both sides might be limited to memorandum and contramemorandum unless further argument is requested by the arbitrator; to retain the phraseology of the fourth paragraph, second page, but the word “general” to be inserted before “spirit,” and the following clause inserted: “But no special agreement between governments shall be considered applicable to the principles involved herein.” All other modifications indicated in Department’s No. 89 will be accepted.
Mr. Peirce asks if he is authorized to proceed on the basis outlined.]