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COMMERCE, Secretary Redfield

March 4, 1918

Says is there were a breakdown of Russian authority on the Siberian
Pacific Coast there are two matters that should be borne in mind by the
Government of the United States.

The so-called Commander Islanda lie east of the ceast of Kamchatka
and are a link between the Asiatic Coast and the Eleutian
Islands which belong to the U.S. They are 300 miles from the nearest U.S.
territory. These Islands (Bering Island and Copper Island) are the heaf-
quarters of what has been known as the Russian Seal herd, ote. Says Great
Britain and Japan each have under existing treaty a right to ten per cent
of the preceeds of conmercial killings--we have guaranteed the integrity
of this herd.

Says these harbors are not ice bound------476

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