The Iola register., 1890-08-01

sponsible Is that It is too late to conclude
thls seasons work. He therefore proposes
that her Msjesty's Governments do not per-
mit the vessels to enter the Behr ng's sea
this season in order to give time for nego-
tiations."
In reply to this Pauncefote on Junes, says:
aHer Majesty's Government are quite will
ling to adopt all measures which shall be
satisfactorily proven 10 be necessary for the
preservat on of the fur seal species, and to
enforce such measures on British subjects
by proper legislation But they are not pre-
pared to agree to such regulation as is sug-
gested in your letter for the present fisher
les season, as apart frcm the considerations
there would be no legal power to enforce It's
observance on British subjects and British
vessels"
In reply Mr.. Blaine states that the Presi-
dent greatly regrets that the British Gov
eminent can not agree TO the proposition,
which would suspend what Lord Salisbury
described In 1888 as "the wanton destruction
of a valuable industry" In later note he
suggests that II 1t is impossible to, by legal
action, prevent British ships from engaging
In this fishing for a season the United states
Government would be satisfied with sim
pie proclamation requesting a suspension.
To this the Minister replies that he will for
ward the suggestion and will. meantime,
withhold the protest which had been for
warded him by the British Government
On June "A, however, he states in another
letter that seeing by the public press that
the United States revenue cutters had been
dispatched to Behring sea with instructions
to seize British sealers, he can not further
withhold the formal protest of his Govern
ment, which he accordingly presents. This
protest states that the British Government
desires an amicable adjustment of the
questions at issue, but that it can not admit
the right of the United States on its sole
motion to restrict the navigation of Beh-
rings sea and adds: ''The undersigned is
in consequence instructed formally to pro-
test against such interference and to declare
that her rritannic Majestys Government
must hold the United States responsible for
the consequences that may ensue from acts
whicn are contrary to the established prin-
cipals of International law"
On June "a Paunceforte laws before the
Secretary of State counter proposition
from the British Government relative to
temporary adjustment of the matter. 1t PRO-
poses first a committee of arbiiration;
second, pending that arbitration all inter-
ference with British sealing vessels shall
abso utely cease; and third, that IL the de-
eision is adverse 10 the United States it shall
compensate British subjects for their losses
in suspension Of operations during the pro-
gr SIS of the arbitration
Mr.. Blaine makes no direct reply to this
out on June 81 senUS twenty six page
type -written) letter in which he goes into a
detailed discussion of the history of Behr-
ing's sea and the ground which the United
States has constantly taken in the matter
and closes by saying: 81 am justified. there
fore, in repeating the question addressed to
her Maiesty's Government on the 22d of last
January and which Is still unanswered:
Whence did the ships of Canada derive the
right to do in 1886 what they had refrained
fror h,fr for atr vrha
ground did that Government defend in 1885
course in Behring sea which had been care
fully avoided ever since the discovery OF
that sea? BY what reason did her Maiesty's
Government conclude that an act may be
committed with impunity against the rights
of the United States which had never been
attempted against the same rights when
held by the Russian Empire?
The closing letter of the series Is dated
Bar Harbor, July l9, and is addressed to Sir
Julian Pauncefote. In it Mr.. Blaine dis.
cusses the question as to the breaking of
the negotiations which were in progress in
1883 and which were understood by
this Government to have been sus-
pended owing to the refusal of Canada
to agree 10 them and after lengthy dis
cusson of the matter closes by saying:
'The interpnstion of the wishes of Brit
ish province against a convention between
two nations which, according to the United
States Minister (Pnelps), has been virtually
agreed upon except as to Details was In the
Z esidents belief grave injustice to the
United safes"