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rare and valuable species from extermination and he concurs generally in Mr. Harcourt's suggestions.

It appears to him, however, that fuller information on the subject will have to be obtained before the proposed Inter-departmental Committee can formulate proposals.

In the first place he would suggest that Mr. Harcourt might possibly wish to obtain the views of the self-governing Dominions on the subject. Secondly, Sir E. Grey would be glad if he could be informed what foreign Powers exactly are interested in the fishery and the approximate extent of their interest. Thirdly, how far the industry can be carried on without recourse to land stations. It appears from your letter that in the waters chiefly concerned whalers have to use factories on land or floating factories moored in harbours. In that case much can be done, as Mr. Harcourt indicates, by restricting the issue of licences and the grant of leases without the necessity for an international agreement. Sir E. Grey is not clear how such restrictions could give rise to valid claims, provided there were no infraction of the existing agreements between His Majesty's Government and the whaling companies, and would be glad of enlightenment on this point.

As regards the composition of the Committee, Sir E. Grey doubts whether the British Museum should be formally represented, as it is not a Department of His Majesty's Government. The Trustees should, however, be invited by the Com- mittee to send a representative to attend some of the meetings-for the purpose of consultation.

It would, however, be essential that the Board of Trade should be represented, and Sir E. Grey would suggest that that Department should also be consulted at the present stage of the proceedings.

I am, &c.,

LOUIS MALLET.

9

for a reasonable term of years, if it could be brought about by international agree ment, would be of advantage, fairly adequate substitutes being available for use during the period when the products of the animals to be protected would be un- obtainable. In some cases the firms in question have suggested certain conditions to which it is not perhaps necessary to allude in detail.

On the other hand, the Dundee Chamber of Commerce point out that the pro- hibition of the hunting of Arctic whales (the only species in which they are inter- ested) for a term of years would involve the absolute cessation of the Dundee whaling industry. They express regret at the diminution in the number of whales, but they decline to pronounce an opinion on the suggested prohibition before a scheme is framed for compensation to the whalers at present engaged in the industry.

In view of this attitude on the part of the whaling industry and in the absence of any indication as to the manner in which the whalers could be compensated, the Board feel that it may be difficult to arrive at a general understanding on the subject.

It is evident that no arrangement could be effective which was not agreed to by countries other than those which appear to have been represented at the Washington meeting of experts, notably by the Scandinavian countries, which are largely engaged in whaling. The Board are not aware whether any steps have been taken to bring the present suggestions officially to the notice of other countries.

The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office.

I have, &c.,

GEO. J. STANLEY.

Enclosure 2 in No. 4.

15591

SIR,

No. 4.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received May 21, 1912.)

[Answered by No. 5.]

Foreign Office, May 20, 1912. WITH reference to my letter of the 2nd instant,* I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit to you herewith, copy of a letter from the Board of Trade respecting the protection of whales, together with a draft of the reply which it is proposed with the concurrence of your Department to return to that Department.

I am, &c.,

LOUIS MALLET.

SIR,

DRAFT LETTER to BOARD of Trade.

Foreign Office, May

1912.

In reply to your letter of the 10th instant, I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to inform you that, so far as he is aware, no action has been taken to bring before other Governments the United States proposals for the protection of whales beyond that reported in the letter from this Department of August 14th last.

A letter has, however, been recently received from the Colonial Office proposing the convocation of an international conference to discuss the subject, in reply to which it was suggested that they should before proceeding further in the matter consult the Board of Trade.

A copy of your letter and this answer has been sent to the Colonial Office.

15591

No. 5.

Enclosure 1 in No. 4.

Board of Trade (Commercial Department), Gwydyr House,

SIR,

I AM directed by the Board of Trade to advert to your letter of June 29th, 1911, transmitting copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Wash- ington, with copy of a memorandum of the views of scientific experts assembled at Washington in connection with the Pelagic Sealing Conference as to the measures desirable to secure the protection of certain marine animals and plumage birds.

Whitehall, London, S. W., 10th May, 1912.

The Board have been in communication with a number of persons interested in the products of the walrus, scal elephant, and whale, with a view to ascertaining how the suggested measures would be likely to affect them. They find that amongst firms in the oil and leather trades there is a general consensus of opinion that the animals in question are becoming scarce and that the prohibition of their slaughter

• No. 3.

SIR,

COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.

[Answered by No. 9.]

Downing Street, 10 July, 1912. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 2nd of May and of the 20th of May,* relative to the protection of whales.

2.

With regard to the points raised in the letter of the 2nd of May, I am to state, for the information of Secretary Sir Edward Grey, that the control of the whaling industry which is already exercised by the Government of the Falkland Islands and in similar cases is based upon the fact that the industry cannot be carried on to any appreciable extent without the use of harbours, not only for shelter

Nos. 3 and 4.

37292

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO