Evening journal., 1890-07-24
THE BEHRING SEA ROW.
a Digest Of the Correspondence
Given to Congress.
MINISTER SALISBURY PROTESTS.

he VeAlemsntiy Objects 40 Abe seizure o.
Britaeh seai PsInsOs and ouoasa presi.
dents TyIcr and Adams So Defense Of
England's Position IN the Dispute.
| WAsHmegoE, July "a The official cor.
respondenoe between the secretary Of state
and tbs British government concerning
hhe Behring ssa oontroveFsy has been sub.
mitted 70 congress by Abe president. The
letters Of Secretary Blaine and the presi.
dent are meraly formal. Tho former states
that the correspondenoe Is SILL IN progress.
The correspondence tsslnsuAtted Is from
Aug, Z, 1880. 70 July 10. 1870. The frat
letter IS from Mr. Ehwardes, first secretary
Of The British legation az Washington. to
Mr, Blaine, IN which the secretary Of state
Is informed that repeated Pumos have
reaehed her majesty's government that
United Staies cruisers have stopped
searched and even seized British vessels In
Bshring sea outside the three mile limit.
Mr. EdwarSies further states that the Mar
quis OF Salisbury desired him to ask TINT
stringent instructions be sent TO United
States officers TO pp<vent the possibility Of
sueh occurrences mixing place. In oonclu-
sion Mr.. Edwarles says:
foroe Oa& but Hinder settlement
TIE Marquis Of Salisbury dealres me 10 eay
that b'r Julian iauneeeote viii b. prepared on
| his return 70 Washington m the autumn n, dis-
eaes The whole question. and her naaseaty's sov
eFnlnent wish 20 point mit to lhs United States
| governnsent that settlement can hut he hin
aefvd ~ any measures az force which may b.
resosted 10 BY the United States.
csdi oH Your Ravanue custersi
In letter 10 Mr.. EdwarSies Mr.. Blaine
states that the United States government
desires 70 have the matter settled on a
basis honorable 10 both nations. In this
letter hr, Blaine says that IN the opinion
OF the president the points az Issue be-
tween the two goveruments are capable Of
prompt adjustment on a basis honorable
to both. On Sept l2, Mr. Eiwardes again
adcresssd note 70 Secretary Blaine urq-
ing an aIswer TO the request that stringent
instructions be sent ~ Alaska 70 prevent
tbs probability Of seizures of British shir,s
u behring setA He stated also that the
British government were earnestly await
ing the reply OF the United States on this
subject. as the reoont reports Of seizures
were causing much excitement. both ID
England and Canada Replying 10 this
nots, on Sept. Ia, SECRETARY Blnina said he
had supposed that Mr. Edwardes' mention
OF the fact that Sir Julian paunceforte
would prooecd to full discussion Of the
question after his arrival in October re-
moved all necessity of preliminary CORE
spondence touching its merits. MI Blaine
says:
Unjust and Misleading.
Referring more particularly 10 ths Question az
sesu sn'eu you repeat tae desire sa your government
Tor an aSewer have u1e honor ~ inform You
thar categorical response would have bean and
stu Is impracticabAs-anju 10 tIds eovernmens
aud misleading 70 the govurnment Of tsar majesty
y WAS, therefore, tire judgnasnt of Mie president
t1lat the whose suh1eot oouhd more ~1a.ly he ~
manded 10 the formal discussion. SO near az
n1lnd. which her ma1estys government hiss pro
posed. and ~ which the government of H.
United states has cordially assnnted Il 4 proper
however, to add thg any instructions sent IL
behrlng eea at the time OF your original rsounat
upon Aug " would have falIed 70 reach thnae
waters oeforv me departurs Of the vessels OF the
United States
Lord Salisbury Protests.
On Oct z note from the MARQUIS OF
Salisbury TO Mr. Edwnrdes was banded TO
Secretary Blaine. In 1t he says:
Her maiestys government ere fully sensible Of
the importance OF this question and of the great
value which will attach 10 an international asrea.
merit 10 respect 70 n. and her nlajesty,s repre
sentative will be furnished with the raoulsite IL
structions in case the secretary Of state should
D. willing 70 enter upon Tie discussion.
II another note OF the same date. from
the marquis 70 Mr.. Edwardes and cornmu-
nicated 30 Secretary Blaine, she Marquis OF
salisbury, referring b. the seizures OF the
biaek Diamond and the Triumph, main- |
talns that from afiidavits and reports fur
nlshed by the governor general Of Canada |
these vessels were seized at a distance from
land lar In excess of the limit OF maritime |
gurisdlction, which any nation could claim |
by International law. In the cases OF Caro-
line, Onward and Thornton. seized N tha /
summer OF 1857, Secretary Bavard INA |
communicated unofEicially assurance that
no further seizures OF this character should
take place pending the discussion Of the
questions involved He adds:
Tier rna1esiy's government much regrets u
nna THAI this understanding had Dot been carried
roSward into the president year, and that instnlc
Cons have been Issued b cruisers Of the United
States b sese British vessals fshinr for seas Al
tehrng sea outside the limit o. territorial waters
lDe grounds upon which chese violent measures
aAFs been taken have not been communicated ~
Der majesty . goyeruuent snd SIN remain I'M.
ApiAined. But To view * tho unexpecsed Al
1ewal Of the seizures of which her fnafesty's gov
'.l.. an.n.ut cave previously 0ompsined, Il Is my
inty % protest against these, aud - stata that
2 the opinion OF her mq3estyN eoverunent
Sey are wholly un3astined IS nteruational law.
secretary Blaine's Defense.
1ne next letter in the correspondenca
mo the first one from Mr.. Blaine 10 Sir
,uiian fauncefote on the subject, Is dated
an = 1917. In this letter the SECRETARY ,
leienus The acts complained Of by the Brit ,
sn government on the following grounds.
Ihat The Canadian vessels arrested and detag,,,d
2 the Behring sea were engaged In a pursuit n |
'~oH oOntfa Donos fnorse-A pursuit. which of | I
eoessity Involves aserous and permanent injury
. II rights of the government and tBe people Of
That The fsheriee had been "a the undistrrhad | /.
'ossessson and under the exclusive control ~ | !
'ussa from rhair discovery until the ces,ion ~
aA&a 10 The United States 10 1907 ana that gro,r
- daee osward untl 1880 they had az, ~ =
laineo IN the undisturbed POSSESSION Of De Y
nited etates eovcrnmenk Q
lnai y Is faCt now hed hsyond denial or v
~ nag 1s taking q seals 10 ale open sea
'Pay Leads 10 the extinction OF t0s species ana !,
lat therefore nations not possessing the tsrritofy Z
pom whion seals can Increase their numbers hv u
ipurad growth should refrain from tse slaughter =
hern Ia the open sea. ~ J I Lt'
.nssia's Rights Are Uncse Sans Faiehsn d
Mr. Blaine further maintained tAae she =
w of the sea aud aha liberty which IL CON -
ne do not justify acts which are informal !, 4
Themselves and which inevitable lead a
results against the interests and against -
's weifase Of mankind, and he proceeds q
tussify tie forcible resistance of the -.
uited Statea government by the necessity isa
dsfauding, NOT cnly sheir own traditional ST.
u long established rights, bat alse the up
Zhts OF good morals ara Of good govern bel
ents the world @vsx He declares that On