Foreign Relations of the United States, 1902, Whaling and Sealing Claims Against Russia, On Account of Arrest and Seizure of the American Vessels “Cape Horn Pigeon,” “James Hamilton Lewis,” “C. H. White,” and “Kate and Anna,” Appendix I

EXHIBIT E E.

[St. Petersburg, February 8/20, 1894]

Note from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia to the Minister of the United States of North America at St. Petersburg, dated February 8, 1894, No. 524.

In continuation of the verbal overtures which the Imperial minister of foreign affairs has already made by your interposition relative to the conclusion with the United States of America of an agreement similar to the one which exists between Russia and Great Britain with regard to the hunting of fur seals, it is my duty to address the present note to you with the request that you will be kind enough to inform us of the decision of the United States Government in this regard.

You are doubtless not unaware that the agreement with England relative to the hunting of fur seals, concluded by the Imperial Government last year, had for its object the ending of annoying differences which frequently arose in consequence of the confiscation of English vessels engaged in illicit sealing in Russian waters.

Differences of this sort might arise with the United States of America relating to vessels engaged in this same prohibited industry under the American flag. It would be very desirable to prevent these, or at least to regulate beforehand the manner of legal procedure by means of a friendly understanding that the law interdicting all unauthorized hunting or fishing in our waters has been lately enforced and rendered more strict by new arguments. The Federal Government, besides, having always professed the broadest and most equitable principles with regard to fur sealing, we do not doubt that it will accept our present proposition.

I have the honor to join herewith copy of the notes of the Imperial Government and of the British chargé d’affaires at St. Petersburg, the exchange of which constituted the agreement arrived at between us and Great Britain in the question of fur sealing.

The application of that agreement will require but a few supplementary modifications with regard to the means of carrying out the projects, concerning which it will not be difficult to agree.

Begging you to have the kindness to present to the Imperial minister of foreign affairs the reply of your Government to the preceding as soon as possible, on account of the approach of the season in which sealing is practiced, I avail myself.

de Giers.