From and to whom. Date. 1891. Subject. in the articles; to claim this right is to entirely change the arbitration. The President claims the right to have the seven points arbitrated. The matters to be arbitrated must be distinctly understood before the arbitrators are chosen. Is prepared to sign the articles without any reservation whatever, and will be glad to have him call at the Department on the 16th, at 11 A. M. Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine Dec. 15 Will transmit note of 14th instant to his government. Pending further instructions, it is not in his power to proceed to the signature of the articles. Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine Dec. 17 States in reply to note of 14th instant that Lord Salisbury states that owing to the difficulties of telegraphic communication he has been misunderstood, and will defer discussion as to the course to be followed in case the regulations are evaded by a change of flag. States that no reservation was embodied in his note of the 11th instant, and agrees with the President that no point should be submitted to the arbitrators not embraced in the agreement. Is ready to sign the articles. Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine Dec. 30 Declines to have the number of the arbitra 1892. Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Blaine...... Jan. 6 tors reduced from seven to five, but prefers that each country should be represented by two and the other three appointed by foreign governments. Speech of Sir George Baden-Powell to his constituents relative to the Behring Sea question, on Jan. 5, 1892, transmitted. Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine Jan. 16 States that Messrs. Baden-Powell and Daw son will arrive on the 29th. Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blai Jan. 21 His government accepts that the arbitrators shall be chosen by France, Italy, and Sweden. Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine Jan. 30 Asks whether Department is prepared to proceed at once to the preparation and signature of the formal arbitration convention and Joint Commission. Mr. Blaine to Sir J. Pauncefote Feb. 4 Inclosing arbitration convention and Joint Commission agreement and states that he is ready to proceed at once to the signature of the convention. Mr. Blaine to Sir J. Pauncefote Feb. 4 States that commissioners have been ap pointed to investigate and report, conjointly with British commissioners, upon facts relative to preservation of seal life; will be ready to confer informally with British colleagues at their convenience. Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine Feb. 6 Note of February 4 acknowledged. States that Sir Baden-Powell and Prof. Dawson have been appointed commissioners in the matter of the preservation of seal life, and trusts that arrangements will be made at once for the meeting of the commission on Monday, 8th instant. Mr. Blaine to Sir J. Pauncefote Feb. 6 Regrets that the British commissioners are men who have already publicly expressed an opinion as to the merits of the question, but hopes this will not prevent a fair and impartial investigation. Supposed that before this the arbitration convention would be signed and thus have enabled the commissioners to proceed officially to a discharge of their duties, but as it became necessary to await approval of the draft From and to whom. Date. 1892. Subject. of the instrument, has interposed no ob jection to preliminary conferences. Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine Feb. 8 Deprecates the intimation that the British commissioners may be biased by previous public expressions of opinion; presents the defense of both of them; remarks that the same observation might be urged in the case of the American commissioners, and expresses satisfaction that the course adopted is in accord with that suggested by him in the note dated April 29, 1890. Mr. Blaine to Sir J. Pauncefote Feb. 9 The British commissioners wishing to post pone joint conferences until arbitration convention shall have been signed, the United States commissioners have been instructed to make known their readiness to proceed without further delay, the United States government regarding the convention as substantially agreed upon. Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine Feb. 11 Acknowledges above; makes mention of two preliminary conferences, and says the British commissioners hope to arrange for the formal opening of their session. Mr. Blaine to Sir J. Pauncefote Feb. 12 Refusal to discuss modus vivendi by the British commissioners; the value of the work of the commission will be diminished thereby. What is the scope of the duties of the British commissioners ? Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine Feb. 13 He is awaiting instructions of Lord Salis bury, to whom the draft of arbitration convention inclosed in the note of February 4 has been forwarded. Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine Feb. 19 No opinion can be expressed by the British government as to the modus vivendi question raised in the interview of the 2d instant, until they know what is proposed. Mr. Blaine to Sir J. Pauncefote Feb. 24 Urges the necessity of a modus vivendi ; the terms should be similar to those of last year, but better executed; asks that the contents of this note be transmitted by telegraph, every day of delay involving great trouble to both governments. Mr. Blaine to Sir J. Pauncefote Feb. 26 Sealing schooners are reported by United Mr. Blaine to Sir J. Pauncefote Feb. 27 States consul at Victoria to have cleared to the number of forty-six with six or seven more to go, as against thirty same date last year. The need of an agreement will soon be over Fixes the 29th as the day on which to sign Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine Mar. 7 Presents arguments in support of Lord Salis bury's refusal to accede to another modus vivendi; the first was agreed to (as per note of June 6, 1891) under stipulation that From and to whom. Date. 1892. Subject. the measure could not be repeated; there is no apparent danger to the seal species; the zone proposed is more extensive than that mentioned by Mr. Blaine on March 16, 1891; the anticipation of conflicts, considered in the note of May 4, 1891, has been met by the provisions of the Behring Sea act of Parliament and order in council. Mr. Wharton to Sir J. Paunce- Mar. 8 The President regrets that Great Britain fote. should decline to agree to an effective mode of protecting a property the title to which is being submitted to arbitration, a course demanded by common equity. The simile of grass cutting refuted. If Great Britain declines, as shown by quotations from previous correspondence, to assume responsibility for acts of her subjects she should restrain the same from committing such acts. The prohibition of seal killing was a matter of comity before arbitration was agreed upon; it is now a matter of obligation. The killing under the restrictions of last year was four times that made on land: it would become enormous in the absence of any restriction. The impracticability of a 30-mile zone, now proposed by Lord Salisbury, was pointed out by himself when the proposal came from this government. The United States can not be expected to forego protecting its property while the arbitration is proceeding. For most recent action in this matter, up to the moment of going to press, see Addenda, preceding Index. THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. THE location at which it is to be held was decided by the United States House of Representatives, the Senate concurring in the same. The contesting cities were Chicago, New York, Washington and St. Louis. Eight ballots were taken, Chicago having the lead in all of them, with New York second and St. Louis a good third. The total vote was 308; necessary for a choice, 154. On the eighth ballot, Chicago received 157 votes, against 107 votes for New York. The following is the vote in detail at each ballot : Total.... Necessary to choice.... 305 309 306 306 312 311 311 308 153 155 154 154 157 156 156 155 At the election in November, 1890, an amendment to the constitution of the State of Illinois, submitted by the Legislature, was adopted by the people, which authorizes the city of Chicago to issue $5,000,000 of thirty-year bonds at 5 per cent. interest, the proceeds to be applied under the direction of the World's Columbian Exposition; said corporate authorities of Chicago to be repaid the same proportionate amount as is repaid to the stockholders on the sums subscribed and paid by them, and to be permitted to take, in whole or in part, of the sum coming to them, any permanent improvements placed on land held or controlled by them. The indebtedness so created by Chicago is to be paid by the city of Chicago alone, and not by the State, or from any State revenue, tax or fund. The subscriptions and the proceeds of these bonds will fill the requirements of the act as to funds. The World's Fair act was approved April 25, 1890. It provides for an exhibition of arts, industries, manufactures and products of the soil, mine and sea in 1892 in Chicago, Illinois, in celebration of the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. A commission of two persons from each State and Territory, to be appointed by the President on the nomination of the Governors, and of eight commissioners-at-large and two from the District of Columbia, to be appointed by the President, in ali which there shall be one from each of the two leading political parties-with alternates-shall be the World's Columbian commission, with power to accept the site, etc., on condition of their being satisfied that $10,000,000 are secured for the complete preparation for said exposition. The commission is required to appoint a board of lady managers, who may |