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Rh for the present the assent of the other self governing Dominions within the British Empire so far as regards the words in Article III, lines 3 and 4: "and no sealskins identified as the species known as Callorhinus alascanus, Callorhinus ursinus, and Callorhinus kurilensis," because there has not been time to obtain the assent of those Dominions to these words, which were submitted to His Majesty's Government only afew days ago.

This reservation is made, not because His Majesty's Government think or have any ground for thinking that these Dominions are likely to object to the words in question, but solely because it has been impossible within the time to ascertain, conformably to the usual practice, whether they are prepared to undertake such obligations as the words impose. His Majesty's Government will consult these Dominions at the earliest possible moment with aview to obtaining their consent to the words for the present reserved.

We have the honour to be,Sir, Your most obedient Servants,

To


 * The Honorable
 * President of the Conference

July 7, 1911 The Right Honorable


 * and

The Honorable ,


 * Delegates of Great Britain to the


 * International Fur Seal Conference

In reply to your note of today addressed to me, I have the honor to inform you that the Delegations of the United States and Japan have read and considered it, and that they regard the obstacles therein mentioned as so remote that they have decided to sign the North Pacific Sealing Convention with the understanding that the Governments of the United States, Japan and Russia are at liberty to await the acceptance by Great Britain of the Convention without the particular reservations mentioned in your note before proceeding with ratification.


 * I have the honor to be,


 * With the highest respect