Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-16
TVE BEHRING SEA ouEsTInN

THE BEHRING SEA QUESTION.
The New York Evening Post amazes us.
That so intelligent and scholarly journal
can take such position as it does regard
ing the Behring Sea question is surprise
In its Issue of the 18th it says:
The Indignation of Canada over the seizure
OF me Black Diamond is quite natural. II is
unq1estionably an outrage for which conpen-
satlon win have to be made.
1t has repeatedly declared the position
of the Government concerning the Behr-
ing Sea closure to be untenable, monstrous,
and opposed to the principles of interna-
tional law and common Justice. But re-
view of the facts will show that the Post
IS either ill-informed or stubbornly deter
mined 10 find fault with its own. The
Clearest and most concise statement of the
question yet made comes from the pen of
ex-Congressman FELTON,, and appeared in
the ArgoaGRt of last week. The facts
found by Mr.. FELTON,, who was member
OF the Conference Committee on the bill
declaring the policy of the Government,
are susceptible of brief statement. They
do not differ materially from the state
mentS already published in the RECORD
UNION, but in their orderly arrangement
and in the clearing away of two or three
errors, Mr.. Felton's paper performs new
and valuable. service. According to this
resume OF the law and the facts, the sea
was discovered by Russian navigator in
1928, and from that day to the date
of the cesslon to the United States,
Russia claimed and maintained exclusive
jurisdiction over the water as marine ter
ritory, and made it closed sea. The pos
sessions OF that nation on the east, north,
and west in mainland, and the chain of
the Aleutian Islands upon the south, com
pletely lock in the sea to an extent that
justified the claim of Russia. But whether
the southern boundary is sufficiently com
pact or not TO maintain the claim, makes
little difference, since Russia's claim was
advanced also for the purpose of prosecut-
ing seal fishing, the seals and offers inhab-
iting that sea almo.t exclusively, and not
departing from it to any considerable ex-
tent. For the purpose of fishing, Russian
subjects occupied the waters undisputedly
grants of privileges were made to them,
restrictions enforced. and trading stations
established. In 1921, one of the chartered
companies complained of interference by
foreigners, whereupon Russia protected
her leSsees, and issued manifesto. re-
counting her claims, re-asserting them,
and warning trespassers to desist She fol-
lowed this up by patroling the sea with
ships of war, practice she kept up to the
time of the session to the United States,
and which she still continues in her half
of the territory. To the manifesto re-
ferred to, England and the United States
protested,
In so far as It extended the Dominion Of
Ru.Sia four degrees south, and TO the one hun
DIR, d mile limit. Mr.. Adams then Secretary of
State, conceded the boundary named in the
charter 70 the Russian American Company, viz
10 the ifty-hth parallel on the coast of the
North Pacific Ocean, but rrsis ed the claim of
Russia TO the coast between the ffty-iirst aud
hfty-hfth parallels north, also the exclusion of
American ships from the North Pacific Ocean,
stating shat with the Russian settlements at
Kodise, or at Sitka the United States may fairly
claim the advantage of a free trade, having 30
long enjoyed II unmolested, and bscause il has
been, abd would continue TO be, as advantage
ons 10 those settlements as 10 them"
The dispute was settled by treaties, and
these treaties show that the issue related
only to the coast and waters of the North
Pacific between the ffty-frst parallel north
latitude and Mt ST. Elias, and east of the
one hundred and forty FIRST meridian of
longitude
In all the protests correspondence, negotia
lions, ana treaties, there is no sIlusion 70 beh-
rings Sea, the Aleu;isn Islands, or 10 any region
oil country or sea within one thousand miles Of
its eastern border hence the sovereignty as
serted and maintained by Russia over that sea
from its discovery to its PARTITION and oession to
the United -tstes, period of over one hundred
and forty years, has never been officially ques-
toned or denied.
Mr.. FELTON, adds that in the treaties
there is no aIlusion whatever to the claim
of or to any surrender by Russia of any iu-
risdiction over Behring Sea. Russia al
ways controlled the taking OF marine life
IN the sea, and stiIl does ia the west half.
over which she exercises undisputed own
e.ship. Mr.. FELTON, calls attention to the
debate in the Senate over the treaty of
cession, which was notice TO all the world
OF Russia's claim; and he invites particu-
lar attention to the language of Mr. Sum
ner, speaking for the treaty, in which he
made it manifest that the chief object of
our purchase was the marine life in the
sea, and it follows that cur title is as COM
plete to the eastern halfof the waters as is
that Of Russia to the western hall, and
which no nation has yentured to question.
In 1868 Congress passed an Act that clearly
exposes the view entertained Of the mat
Ter in the title and body, for it was an Act
providing that
The laws of the United States relating TO Gus
toms. commerce and navigation are extended
waite OF the terrtory cedod 70 t.,e lnites states
bS the Emperor of eu sia." also provides
taas tsse Rev Stat.. See. 1896 no person shall
KIN ary fl seal or other fur hea ding sui,naIs
~fshiBfhe Emit. of Alaska Territory or in the
wa ers The, cot"
In 1881 cur Government gave notice to