File No. 861.0145/7.

The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State .

No. 558.]

Sir: In acknowledging the Department’s instruction No. 157 of the 21 ultimo, in reference to the Russian law extending to twelve [Page 1301] miles from low-water mark the area of supervision by the Russian customs authorities, I have the honor to state that I have been able to gain little further information on the subject. The Duma Committee has unanimously adopted the Government’s text of the bill, as well as that of the bill for the protection of the fisheries in the seas of the Government of Archangel (See my Nos. 452 of January 16, and 466 of February 13, last.) As the Duma is to adjourn on June 28, however, the bills will doubtless not be reported to that body or acted upon in the present session.

In a recent conversation the British Ambassador informed me that the question is now under discussion of bringing the whole subject, (not only of the twelve-mile limit, but of the fisheries also) before an international conference.

I have [etc.]

W. W. Rockhill.