The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-07-26
BRITAIN WARNED.
Our Rights in the Seal Fisheries
Must Be Respected.
4 Synopsis Of the Correspondents
Relative to the Controversy
Over Behring Sea.
UNCLE SANS FIRM STAND.


In his accompanying letter OF trans
initial to the President, Secretary
Blaine, under date Of Bar llarbor, July
10, regrets the delay in transmission
which the President directed on the
18th inst. and says that the corre-
spondence is still in progress. The
correspondence includes thirty sep
arate papers, beginning with a
letter from Mr. Edwards, first sccre.
tary Of legation and charge d'aifaires
after Minister Vests recall, dated Au-
gust "a, 1889, and closing with one from
Secretary Blaine TO Sir Julian Paunce-
fote, the British Minister, dated July
10, 1880.
The correspondence during 1889 Is
mostly preliminary, and the desire is
expressed on both sides for settlement
OF the question at the earliest possible
moment The seizure Of the sealers
Black Diamond and Triumph by the
revenue cutter Rush is mentioned and
characterized by the British foreign Of
fee as unwarranted by international
law.
The correspondence between Secre-
tary Blaine and the new British Min
lister began January 22 Of this year with
Q long letter from the Secretary to Sir
Julian Pauncefote This letter may
be fairly taken as setting forth the po-
sition of the United States in the con-
troversy.
In this letter the Secretary defends
the acts complained Of by the British
Government on the following grounds:
That the Canadian vessels arrested and de-
tanned In Behring sea were engaged In pur
suit contra bonos moros which Of necessity In
wolves serious and permanent injury TO
the Governm and people OF the United
States. That the fisheries had been In
the undi turbed possession OF Russia
from their discovery until the cession
Of Alaska to the United States In 1867, and
from this date until 1885 In the undisturbcd
possession OF the United States Government
That IL Is "a fact now held beyond denial or
doubt that the taking Of seals in the open sea
rapidly leads to the extinction OF the
species. He declares that while the
United States will not withhold from any
nation the privileges which they demand.
ed for themselves, when Alaska was
part OF the Russian empire, they are not dis
posed to exercise In the possession any less
power or authority than they were willing to
concede to the imperial Government OF Russia
when its sovereignty extended over them. He
claims from friendly nations a recognition OF
the same rights and privileges which the same
friendly nations always conceded to Russia.
On February 10 Sir Julian Paunceiote writes
70 Secretary Blaine To inform him that the
British Government was willing 10 invite the
participation OF Russia TO renewed negotia-
tions for the settlement Of the controversy.
letter from the Marquis Of Salisbury Is also in
Guided In this the Marquis, replying to the
Secretary's argument that the seizures OF the
Canadian vessels were Justified 10y the fact
that they were engaged In pursuit that Is In
itself contra bonOs mOres, inquiries:
First whether the pursuit and killing OF fur
seals in certain parts Of the open sea H. from
the point OF view OF international morality, an
ofense contra bonos mores, and secondly, wheth-
er, II such be the case, the fact justihes tho
seizure on the high seas and subsequent con-
fscati0n in time OF peace of the private yes.
sells OF friendly nation. IL IL an
axiom OF international maritime law
that such action Is only admissible In the
case OF piracy or In pursuance OF special inter
national agreement The pursuit OF seals In
the open sea. under whatever circumstances,
has never hitherto been considered as
piracy by any civilized STATE. In the
case OF the slave trade, practice which
the civilized world has agreed to look
ing the vessels OF another country is ex-
ercised only by special international agree
ment, and no Government has been allowed
that general control OF mortals In this respect
which Mr.. Blaine claims on behalf OF the
United States in regard to seal hunting. Her
Majesty's Government would deeply regret
that the pursuit OF fur seals on the high
seas by British vessels should involve
even the slightest injury TO the people OF
the United States II the case be proved they
will be ready to consider what measures can be
properly taken for the remedy o: such injury,
but they would be unable on that ground to de-
part from principal on which free commerce
on the high seas depends.
The second argument advanced by Mr..
Blaine IL that the fur seal fisheries Of Behr.
ing's sea had been exclusively controlled by
the Government OF Russia from the original
discovery until the cession OF Alaska 10 the
United States In 1867"
Res, Getting Mr. Bane's statement OF the ex'
elusive monopoly enjoyed by Russia, the
Marquis quotes from Mr.. John Quincy Adams
letter TO the United States Minister IN Russia
(which nation In 1921 prohibited all foreign
vessels from approaching within 100 miles
from the coast of Behring straits 10 the 5lst
degree north latitudc) to the effect that
the United States could admit no part OF these
claims. He alsJ cites the case OF the United
States brig Lariot to show that the right OF
fishing thus asserted included the right OF
killing fur bearing animals. The brig was
forced by an armed Russian naval vessel to
leave the waters. He also argues from the
speech OF Mr. Sumner when introducing the
question OF the purchase Of Alaska to Congress-
in which he said: NO sea Is now marc
clausum all OF these may be pursued by ship
under any flag, except directly on the coast or
within the territorial limit" Says the Mar
euis In conclusion:
The negotiations now being carried on AT
Washington prove the readiness Of her Males.
TVS Government TO consider whether any spe-
cial international agreement Is necessary for
the protection OF the fur seal industry. In its
absence they are unable 10 admit that the case
put forward on behalf OF the United States af-
fords any sufficient justification for the forciblo
action already taken by them against peacea-
ole subjects OF her Majesty engaged In lawful
operations on the high seas"
number OF letters exchanged during May
and June OF this year embody suggestions by
Secretary Blaine 10 the Marquis Of Salisbury
that the latter forbid British ships entering
Behring sea during the present season, so that
time may be had TO settle the question. The
British Prime Minister replies that he has no
power 20 issue or enforce such an order.
On June II Sir Julian Pauncefote, having
failed to secure an assurance from Secretary
Blaine that British sealing vessels would not
be interfered with during the negotiations pre-.
scented "A formal protest in the usual diplomatic