New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-28

ANO TIER INTERNA TIONAL CONFERENCE
The debate in the Dominion Parliament on
the Behring Sea seizures has brought out one
new fact. This is a proposition apparently
made by the State Department for an interna-
tional conference Sir John Macdonald, in re-
plying TO the spirited protests of members OF
the Opposition against the action Of the United
States authorities in those waters, remarked
that the question did not relate exclusively to
Canada, but affected England, France Holland
and other Powers. The budget of correspond
ence laid before the House contained several
dispatches from Lord Salisbury to Mr. Cham
berlain in relation to an International congress
for the protection of vessels in Behring Sea. he
stated that Germany, Sweden and other mari
time Powers had received from the State De-
partment communications respecting this pro-
iect and that while the Foreign Office had not
been taken into Mr.. Bayard's confidence it had
informed Mr.. Phelps that it would be favorably
disposed toward the negotiation of maritime
agreement for the protection of seal fisheries in
any part of the world. The correspondence
partly explains the mysterious conferences re-
Gently reported to have been held in London be-
tween Lord Salisbury and the Russian Minis
ter on the subject of maritime rights and ma
tional Jurisdiction in Behring Sea. The ques-
tions at issue were evidently excluded from the
negotiations conducted by Mr.. Chamberlain at
Washington in consequence of proposals al
ready made for another and more important in
ternational commission.
No argument will be required to prove the
necessity for Joint action on the part Of Russia
and the United States if these questions are to
be discussed at an international conference. IL
the Fisheries Commissioners had taken up this
subject they would have sought to interpret or
revise Treaty made between Russia and the
United States The seizures of American and
British sealers are grounded upon the Revised
Statutes, which were enacted to enforce the
rights conveyed by partition of empire effected
by the treaty Of cesson. If those statutes are
to be altered and the privileges OF exclusive
Jurisdiction over the American section Of Ben
ring Sea abandoned, the Russian Foreign Of
fee manifestly should be consulted in advance
of Canada and Great Britain. Russia signed
what was virtually a quit claim deed in favor
of the United States, and retained all the rights
of Jurisdiction previously claimed within its
half of Behring Sea. If Secretary Bayard had
modified the policy Of the United States in re-
Spouse to unfortunate demands from Sir Charles
Upper and Mr.. Chamberlain he would have
challenged Russian pretensions to sole 1urls-
dictiOn in the waters lying to the east OF the
pelagic boundary established by Mr.. Stewards
Treaty between the two countries. Appar-
emily he bravely resisted the temptation to sub
NIT that Treaty to the British Commissioners
for revision and cautiously opened negotiations
for an international conference in which Rus
STA should take a leading part.
The assertion is often made that John Quincy
Adams, when Secretary of State, protested
against the right Of jurisdiction which was SUBJ
sequently obtained by purchase from Russia.
This is inaccurate. The ukase of the Car in
1899 proclaimed dominion over the lands and
islands of Russian America only as far south as
latitude SO degrees. In 1921 this claim OF
land Jurisdiction was extended TO latitude 81
degrees and coupled with the assumption OF
control over the open waters of the North Pa
cific south of the Aleutian chain Mr.. Adams's
protest was directed against this new and revised
claim. 1t did not refer to Behring Sea and the
Seal Islands. In the Treaty Of 1924, made with
the United States, Russia renowned control
over portion of the Northwest Coast and aban-
doned It's claim of jurisdiction over the North
Pacific south Of the Aleutian Islands, but did not
relinquish its jurisdiction over Behring Sea.
In the subsequent Treaty negotiated with Great
Britain control over the great ocean was likewise
renowned, but exclusive privileges were re-
tanned in the land-locked sea. When Mr..
Seward purchased Alaska he bargained for
those rights of dominion which Russia had al
ways tacitly reserved in its negotiations with
-. l. 4
discussed in an international conference it is
manifestly necessary for both the United States
and Russia to unite in the preliminary arrange