711.417/782
The Department of State to the Japanese Embassy23
Careful consideration has been given to the memorandum handed by the Japanese Ambassador on December 28, to Mr. Johnson,24 and the Department of State is happy to note that the Japanese Government has been pleased to fall in with the suggestion made by Mr. Grew on November 29, 1926, in his conversation with the Japanese [Page 148] Ambassador, for a joint investigation into the migratory and feeding habits of the seals of the Pribilof Islands by the scientists of the two countries in order to determine whether the American seal herd is becoming a menace to Japanese fisheries due to its increase under the protection of the present Convention for the Preservation and Protection of Fur Seals.
The Department has noted the suggestion of the Japanese Government that experts of Great Britain and Soviet Russia be invited to cooperate with experts of the United States and Japan in this scientific investigation.
In the memorandum which was handed to the Japanese Ambassador on November 29, 1926, by Mr. Grew, it was pointed out that the present Convention appears to be accomplishing its purposes satisfactorily. The Japanese Government contends that due to the protection which the Convention has given to the seals, the American herd has increased to such an extent that it has become a menace to Japanese fisheries. As stated in the memorandum above referred to, the American authorities are not convinced either that the American herd visits Japanese waters in the course of its summer migration, or that it is a menace to commercially valuable fish. However, in order that the difference of opinion now entertained by the Japanese and American authorities on this subject may be disposed of, the Government of the United States has indicated its willingness to join with the Japanese Government in a scientific investigation into the present habits of the American herd.
The Department is not convinced that present circumstances necessitate extending the scope of such investigation beyond the investigations which could be made by the scientists of the two countries immediately involved, and it therefore believes that such investigation can be adequately and expeditiously accomplished if the personnel involved were limited as indicated. It is prepared to appoint the necessary personnel and arrange other details of this joint investigation whenever the Japanese Government indicates its readiness to proceed with it.