Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-07-26
THU ACUTE. STAGE
La the Behring Sci Trouble Was
Reached June IA, 1890.
Statement and Protest of the
British Minister.

Great Britain Anxious Cooperate
With the United states in Protecting
the Seal Fisheries of Alaska, But Not
willing to Admit Our Right to Control
the Entire Behring Sea.
WASHINGTON, July 25.-The CORE
spondence between the United States
and Great Britain regarding the Behring
sea controversy has been sent to con-
g-ess by Secretary Blaine. The dispute
reached an acute stage on June Ia, last,
when Sir Julian Pauncefote, British
minister at Washington, delivered to
Mr.. Blaine the following statement and
protest:
Her Britannia majesty's government
have learned with great concern from
notices which have appeared in the
press, and the general accuracy of which
has been confirmed by Mr.. Blaine's state
nent to the undersigned, that the gov
eminent of the United States have issued
instructions to their revenue cruisers
about to be dispatched to Behring sea,
under which the vessels of British sub
jects will again be exposed, in the prose-
cution of their legitimate industry on
the high seas, to unlawful interference
at the hands of American officers.
"Her Britannia majestys government
is anxious to cooperate to the fullest ex-
tent of its power with the government
of the United States in such measures
as may be found to be expedient for the
protection of the seal fisheries. They
are ut the present moment engaged in
examining, in concert with the govern
ment of the United States, the best
method of arriving at an agreement
upon this point.
But they can not admit the right of
the United States of their own sole mo-
ton to restrict for this purpose the free
dom of navigation of Behring sea, which
the United States have themselves in
former years convincingly and success
fully indicated, nor to enforce their
municipal legislation against British
vessels on the high seas beyond the
limits of their territorial jurisdiction.
Her Britannia majesty's government
is, therefore, unable to pass over with
out notice the public announcement of
an intention on the part of the govern
meEt of the United States to renew the
acts of interference with British vessels
navigating outside the territorial
waters of the United States of which
they have previously had to complain.
" rhe undersigned is in consequence
instructed formally to protest against
such interference, and to declare that
her Britannia maiestys government
must hold the government of the United
States responsible for the consequences
that may ensue from acts which are
contrary to the established principles of
international law. The undersigned has
the honor to renew to Mr.. Blaine the
assurance of his highest consideration"
The minister next, June ~, replies to
Secretary Blaine's proposition looking to
IA proclamation of her majesty's govern
nlent that British vessels shall not enter
Behring sea the coming season. The
minister writes that Lord Salisbury SAYS
that the presidents request presents con-
stitutional difficulties which would pre-
clude her majesty's government from
acceding to it, except as part of
general scheme for the settlement of the
Behrlng sea controversy. and on certain
conditions which would justify the
assumption by her majesty's govern
ment of the grave responsibility involved
in the proposal.
These conditions are:
First-That the two governments
agree forthwith to refer to arbitration
the question of the legality of the action
of the United States government in seiz-
ing or otherwise interfering with Brit
ish vessels engaged in the Behring sea,
outside of territorial waters, during the
years of 1885, 1887 and 1888. -"
Second-That, pending the award, all
with British sealing vessels
shall absolutely cease.
Third--That the United States gov
eminent, if the award should of averse
to them on the question be legal right,
will compensate British subjects for the
losses which they may sustain by reason
of their compliance with the British
proclamation.
Such, says the minister, are the three
on which it is indispensable,
in the view of her majesty's government,
that the issue of the proposed proclama-
ton should be based.
Correspondence on the subject still is
in progress. t...