New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-03
BAYIPD AND BEERIYG SEA.

| The Republican Administration in dealing
with the Behnng Sea question is naturally
/ forced 70 maintain certain degree OF con-
/ tinuity with the previous Administration In
/ ordinary circumstances this would not be DIM
cult. since a National Administration usually
/ contriyes 70 persevere in a definite course Of
action. especially in matters Of diplomacy. In
this case it is not easy for the reason that the
| Cleveland Administration had hot and cold MS
! in its treatment Of this question. Three De
partments antagClized one another ana there
were successive displays Of vigorous action.
vacilla,ing diplomacy. Executive overrullng Of
the decisions II the Alaska courts, renewed
yigor. a shifting Of the whole ground OF negotla-
tons. inaction in Behring Sea and finally Presl-
dent Cleveland's sanction Of the American case
| in his signature appended to the statute for the
nrote,.ion of the fur-seal fisheries passed by the
| last Congress The Republican Administration
/ viii have an exceedingly delicate duty II 1t
undertakes TO maintain continuity Of policy
with the zigzag line Of Democratic precedent
and practice.
During the first year of the Cleveland Ad-
ministration no seizures were made IN behnng
/ sea. In1e86 the Treasury Department acting
/ ipdependently Of the State Department, sent
/ the revenue cutter Corwin north 70 enforce the
! law. acting upon the rheory and practice Of pre-
! ceding Admin STATIONS IN Interpreting the
jurisdiction in Behring Sea conferred by the
Revised Statutes as limited only by the pelagic
line defined BY the treaty Of cession That
theory and practice had been officially declared
! bv Acting Secretary French on March u,
! 1881, as follows:
- -. - -e-.-s n -. fnter7-e,stion % the
farms waters thereof and waters az! sceni thereto
a. used IN The law and hOw far tie jurisdiction u TIC
Tinted states Is 70 Be understood a. extending ITO
slung your inquiry 70 relate more especially 70 tne
waters o. western Alaska, you are Informed thst ne
treaty. with Russia OF Ma-ch 80 1870 By which TIE
Territory q Alaska eeded 70 TIE Jnitea elat@s'
defines ne boundary Of the territory 80 cedrc his
fr.s-v s fo-rd On psres 81 and o13 o. ne Nol-s
q tresfles O the Revised statues i VIII D. s-
,he-etrou that TIE limit Of the oesson e1euos lFol
line starting from the Arctic Ocean and running
through Behring strait the north Of 81 lawrence
Islands. Tie lie runs thence IN a southvesierlE
6irc-io % as 70 pass midway between TIE island o.
Artcu and Copper Island q The krJnsnoosh eouple'
or crIp IN the North Pacific Ocean, 70 meridian o. 10
degrees Of west Ion gitde. AL the waters within tLa'
boupdary 70 the western end Of the Aleu7aa -ArVA-
ralsr, and chain q Islands are considered "a comprised
within the waters q Alaska Ierltory- All the penal
tbs prescribed By law against The killing OF fuf-
bearing animals would therefore attach against any
violation Of law within TIE limits before described
The seizure Of the three British sealerS
! Thornton. Onward and Carolena in $50 and
/ their subsequent condemnation by the court al
| Sitka were grounded upon this Interpretation Of
! the Revised Statutes as confeTing exclusive
/ jurisdiction in the eastern half Of Behnng sea
/ This was the first phase Of Democratic action.
/ Then Mr.. Bayard interviewed with Ms char
/ aoteristic diplomacy. Beng hard pressed by
! the British Government which protested ylgOr-
ously against the seizures. be pleaded lack OF
/ information and raised various preteXtS for de-
/ Law without ever attempting 70 justify the action
! # the Government. Finally. when the Treas-
NV Department and the A1torney-Generals Of
fee were arfanyed against him and L0Id Sails
bury had sent a peremptory dispatch on the IL
legality Of the seizures. the Secretary Of state
prevailed upon the President 70 order release
| Of the three vessels The courts did not com
DIV with the order and the Secretary was again
! called 60 account by the British Minister. and
l.there was another unseeuly series Of apologies
and regrets. Al these proceedings were symp-
toms Of the cold Fl. Suddenly in 1857 came
reversion L. the policy of action. Seven British
| sealers were seized in Behring Sea on the gen
ela ground Of exclusive jurisdiction conferred
| by the Revised Statutes. The Democratic Ad-
ninisaatO on. havin. boxed the compass On this
question. had finally succeeded in getting around
/ 10 the point from which it started. But il did
not stay there.
Poor Mr. Bayard. confronted with another
series Of British protests and with Lord Sails
buys argument on the general merits Of the
case still unanswered was forced 10 change mis-
base Late in 1857 he opened negotiations
with the Governments OF Great Britain, Ger
many, France. Russis. japan and Sweden and
| Norway for arranging Close season in Behring
| Sea during which the shooting and killing Of
/ fuI-seal should be prevented by mutual consent
/ The overtures were well received by all the
Powers and especially by England. where con-
/ situations were held between Lord Salisbury
and the American and Russian Ministers The
1 agreement was not concluded owing TO reasons
which have never been explained but Mr..
| Bayard was so sanguine OF success that he in
/ duced the Cabinet to reverse its policy in
/ Behring sea during the season Of 1855. This
was done secretly. confidential instructions
/ being given 10 the commanders If the revenue
! vessels to cOnniye at the violation Of the law
/ The British sealers were allowed 20 disregard
with impunity the statutes which had been en-
| forced for two years This was the second cold
fit following the hot one. Then Congress in
teryened with the passage Of the following
mandatory s;s;nte for the guidance Of the in
coming Administration:
section 1856 Of the Revised Statutes Of The United
states IS hereby declared include and apply 10 ali
the domnions Of the United states in the waters Of
Behriue sea And shall be the duty Of the President
a. timely IN each year 10 issue his proclama
ton aud The be published for month
ia at least one newspaper published al each United
states port Of entry the Pacific Coast, warning all
persons against entering said territory and for
the purpose Of violating the provisions Of sad section
and be shall also cause more vessels Of the
United states ~ diligently cruise SAID and