The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-08-07
BEHRING SEA PROBLEM.
CLAIM OF IKE UNITED STATES TO
EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION.

CLAIM OF IKE UNITED STATES TC
EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION.
The Seizure of the Black Diamond Likely
to Lead to Tedious Negotiations-Pre
cedent Against Us-Secretary Blaine's
Attitude.
WASHINGTON, July 31.-Thc seizure Of
the British schooner Black Diamond ir
Alaskan waters by the United States in
ternal revenue cutter Rush, in pursuance
of President HarriSon's proclamation OF
March 90, rcopcns the question of the
right Of the United States to maintain
jurisdiction over Behrins Sea as a
CLOSED sea-" and Mr.. Harrisons ad-
ministration is undoubtedly on the eve
of long and tedious diplomatic negotIa-
tons with the English government on
the subject. Is discussion will involve
the reconsideration of the Canadian
fisheries question, for the two matters
are very closely allied.
Ever since the United States acquired
the Territory Of Alaska from the Rus
sian Empire, in 1867, until the latter
part of the Cleveland administration
The claim of closed sea has been main
tanned, and regulations for the taking
of seals in those waters have been en-.
forced. England has steadily refused
TO recognize this claim of the United
States. but she neve: persistently dehed
the authority Of the American revenue
cutters until the beginning of the fishe-
rics trouble in Canadian waters. Since
then, however, the British government
has insisted on the right to take seas
in those waters, and their claims IN the
Behriny Sea fisheries were used to offset
the claims of the Americans in tho Ca
madam fisheries. The result was a large
number of seizures of British scalcrs IN
the summer of 1886 and 1887.
Mr.. Bayard, the then Secretary Of
State, on looking into the matter, enter
tanned some doubts rs to the validity OF
the claims of the United States, and
there was q suspension OF proceedings
pending the negotiation of the Bayard-
Chamberlain fisheries treaty. The con-
seouence was that in 1888 British
sealers we're unmoleStcd in Bchrins Sea,
and they returned to the fishing ground
this year in increased numbers.
Mr.. Harrlson's proclamation was posi-
tive. however. and the first result is the
seizure If the Black Diamond.
Assistant Secretary OF State Wharton
said to-day that thus far the department
has no official knowleSdgc of the selzurc
of the vessel. 1t is expected that IN a
few DAYS information will Dc received
from the Treasury Department, or it is
possible, he said, that the first informa-
ton may come in the form of 4 protest
from the English minister: No serious
trouble is expected between the two
countries, but negotiations will proba-
bly be set on foot with view to effect
ing final settlement of the whole
question by treaty.
II is understood that Mr.. Blaine is a
firm supporter of the closed. sea theory,
and he will doubtless insist on that basis
of settlement. Whether he can secure
Se CONCESSION 0l TINS point ny huSian"
without at the same time making equally
concessions on the side OF the
Canadian fisheries, is exceedingly doubt
sul, and the result will probably be very
ong and tedious negotiations, with very
i7tlc prospect of a final settlement OF
the two questions.
One of the strong arguments on the
English side of the Behring Sea question
is the fact that in 1921 the Russian gov
arpment. at that time in possession of
Alaska, set up much the same claim to
exclusive rights rs is now urged ny the
United States. Al that time the United
States occupied relatively the same posi-
ton as England now holds in the CON
trovcrSy. and this government success,
fully resisted the. Russian claim. 1t Will
be argued by England that II tins gov
ernment has any exclusive rights IN
Sea, must have acquired them
bv purchase from Russia, but 1t Will DE
said if any such Russian rights ever
existed, they were not recognized by the
United States in 1921, and consequently
they were net in existence and could not
be transferred to the United States IN
1861. This Is one of the considerations
that inclined Mr.. Bayard to doubt
whether the claim of the United States
could be maintained, especially when
the United States refused to allow cX-
elusive rights to England in the Cana
dian fisheries.
BANGOR, Nc, July al.-Sccretury Jas.
G. Blaine passed through the city to-day
en- route to Bar lIarbor. A reporter called
his attention to adcclaration in a Boston
paper that it would be impossible forthe
to Sustain the pretentlons
Of Secretrry Blaine that the Behrlng Sea
is distinctly American water The
Secretary of State simply remarks that
it might be well for the paper IN ques-
ton to indicate the occasion, official or
where he had said anything
at iii on that point.
Sir. Blaine made the further statement
that everything done on the fur seal
question since the 4th of last March was
in literal compliance with directions con-
tanned in the Act of Congress whlci
was approved by President Cleveland on
the last day of his term.