Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-24
CURT MESSAGES.
PauncefOte and Blaine Exchange Spunky
Epistles.


PauncefOte and Blaine Exchange Spunky
Epist1es.
The next letter in the series is from
the British minister to Blaine, under
date of March 23d. The minister says,
as the secretary has confirmed the news
paper statement that revenue cutters
have been ordered to Bering sea to seize
foreign sealers, he is instructed to say
that formal protest against such inter-
ference with British vessels will be for
warded without delay.
Blaine's response, three days later, is
even more brief, being simple acknowl
edgment of the receipt OF the letter.
Later, however, on the Goth, he wrote
Sir Julian that in turn he is instructed
by the president to protest against the
course of the British government in
authorizing, encouraging and protecting
vessels which are not only interfering
with American rights in Bering sea, but
which are doing violence as well to the
rights of the civilized world.
The president, he says, is surprised
that such protest should be authorized
by Lord Salisbury, especially because
the declaration of the views of his lord
ship would seem to render it impossible.
The secretary then rapidly sketches
the history of the negotiations under the
previous administration, and says: "You
will observe that from the 11th of No
vember, 1887, to the Sd OF April, 1888,
Lord Salisbury had in every form of
speech assented to the necessity of
close season tor the protection of the
seals. These assurances were given to
the American minister and to the Rus
sian ambassador, and on more than one
occasion to the two of them together.
The United States had no reason, there
fore, to doubt that the whole dispute
touching the seal fisheries was practically
settled"
Continuing, Secretary Blaine states
five days after that assurance Lord Sal
isbury said that neither an act of par
lament nor an order of council could be
affected until Canada is heard from.
Mr.. Phelps, in his dispatch September
18th, reported: Ellis lordship stated
that the Canadian government OBJ
jected to any such restrictions, and
until its consent could be obtained, her
majesty's government was not willing
to enter into a convention" Says the
secretary: "This government cannot
but feel that Lord Salisbury would have
dealt more frankly in the beginning had
he so informed Minister Phelps. The
British government would assuredly
and rightfully complain if an agree
ment between her and a represen-
tative of the United States should with
out notice be broken off by the United
States on the ground that the state of
California was not willing it should be
completed.
In conclusion he proposes in behalf of
the president that her majesty's gov
ernment agree not to permit vessels to
enter Bering sea this season in order
that time may be secured for negotia-
tions that shall not be disturbed by un-
toward events, or unduly influenced by
popular agitation.
On July End the secretary writes Sir
Julian that the president believes arbi-
tration cannot be concluded in time for
this season, and suggests that Lord
Salisbury make for single season the
regulation which in 1883 he offered to
make permanent, as step which will
certainly lead to friendly agreement.
To this the minister replies that on
June Sd further examination of the
question has satisfied his lordship that
an extreme measure as that proposed in
1888 goes far beyond the requirements of
the case. There would be no legal
power to enforce the observance of such
an agreement on British vessels.
Secretary Blaine, replying June 4th,
says the 'eXtreme measure came from
Lord Salisbury himself, and concludes !:
1.-THE president does not conceal his
disappointment that even for the sake
OF securing impartial arbitration her
majesty's government is not willing to
suspend for single season the practice
which Lord Salisbury described in 1888
as the wontan destruction of valuable
industry and which this government
has uniformly regarded as an unpro-
voked invasion of it's established rights"
On June 9th Sir Julian Pauncefote
presents the copy of telegram from
Salisbury, in which he..regretted that the
president should think him wanting in
conciliation, but that it is beyond the
power of his government to exclude
British or Canadian ships from any por-
ton of the high seas, even for an hour,
without legislative enactment.
In his reply on the 11th, Secretary
Blaine says this government would be
satisfied if Lord Salisbury would by
proclamation simply request British
vessels to abstain from entering Bering
sea for the present season, in order to
give full time for impartial negotiation.
Sir Julian, on June 18th, writes
Blaine that he has informed Lord Sails
bury that Secretary Blaine could not
give assurance that British sealing ves-
sells would not be interfered with during
the negotiations, and expresses the hope
that the decision is not final, and that
while there is yet time the commanders
of the United States revenue cruisers
will be instructed to abstain.
BRITAIN'S PROTEST.