The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-24
The Letters Between America
and Great Britain.
MR.. BLAINE RAkEs SALISBURY.
The English Premier Was Evidently
Bulldozed by Canadians.
British Poachers Must Keep Out OF Beh-
ring sea, Just ~ They Did when
Russia Owned AIaska-Plain Talk to
the vaciilating English Government.

WAsHIxeroS CIrx. July 23.-The presi-
dent today sent to the House of Repre-
sentatives. in answer to the resolution in
troduced by Representative Hit. the
omciai correspondence between the United
otates governments and Great Britain
touching the seal fisheries of Behring sea.
In the accompanying letter OF transmittal
TO the president, Secretary Blaine, under
date of Bar Harbor. July l9, regrets delay
In transmission, which the president had
directed to take place on the 1lth inst,
and says that the correspondence is still in
progress.
The correspondence includes thirty sep
arate papers. beginning with letter from
Edwards, first secretary of the legation and
charge d'affairs after Minister Vests re-
call, dated August "a, 1889, and closing
with ono from Secretary Blaine to Sir
Julian Pauncefote, the British minister,
dated July 10, 1890 The opening letter
from Edwards says he is instructed by his
government to call attention to the fact
that repeated rumors have reached the
British government that British vessels
have been searched and seized by United
States cruisers in Behring sea outside
the three-mile limit, and to ask the United
States to send stringent instructions to its
officers to prevent the possibilities of such
occurrences taking place, in accordance
with the assurances of Secretary Bayard
that, pending negotiation, no such inter-
ference should take place, and adding that
Sir Julian Pauncefcte, on his return to
Washington. would be prepared to discuss
the whole question.
To this Blaine replied on the same day
that the same rumors, probably based on
the truth, had reached the government of
the United States, hut that up to date no
official communication had been received
on the subject He adds:
1t has been the earnest endeavor of the presi-
dent of the United States to have such adjust
ment - shall remove all possible ground for
Misunderstanding with her majesfy's govern
and the pfek1dent believes that the responsibility
for delay in adjustment cannot be properly
charged to the government Of the United States.
In the opinion of the president the points at
issue between the two governments are capable
Of prompt adjustment on . basis entirely honor
able to both.
In September last, Edwards asked when
he might expect an answer to the request
OF his government. made August "A, that
instructions be sent to Alaska to prevent
the seizure of British ships in Behring sea.
He says that recent reports of seizures
having taken place. have caused much ex-
element, both in England and Canada.
Blaine, on September IA, replied he sup
posed her majesty 8 government was satis-
fed of the presidents earnest desire to
come to friendly relations. and that the
official instruction to Sir Julian Pauncefote
to proceed Immediately after his arrival in
October to full discussion of the question
removed all necessity for preliminary cor
respondence touching its merits. A cate
gorical response would have been and still
is impracticable and unjust to this govern
ment, and misleading to the government of
her majesty. Therefore, in the Judgment
OF the president, the whole subject could
more wisely be remanded to the formal
discussion so near at hand. 1t is proper,
however, to add that any instructions sent
Behring sea at time of the original request
would have failed to reach those waters be-
fore the departure of the vessels of the
United States.
The next communication is q telegram
from Lord Salisbury to Edwards. favoring
the proposed international agreement for
close season on the sealing grounds. In
another letter to Edwards, October 2, the
marquis transmits copies of affidavits bear
ing on the seizure of the British sealers
Black Diamond and Triumph. by the
United States revenue cutter Rush. He
says:
1t is apparent from these afidavits that the
vessels were seized at Q distance from the land
far in excess of the line of maritime jurisdc-
ton which any nation can claim by int rna-
AZ f~~ xlo~ f.rf hsc a.
of the ships Caroline, Onward and Thornton,
seized by vessels of the United States outside OF
territorial waters In the summer of 1857. The
illegaity of this broaght to the attention of
the United STATES, aud, though no official reply
was made, Secretary Bayard gave unofficial
assurance that no more seizures would be made
pending negotiations; and that in view of the
unexpected renewal OF seizures Of which her
majesfy's government has previously COM
planned, il 10 my duty to protest against them
and to state that in the opinion of her majesty's
government they are wholly unjustiied by
International law.
The correspondence between Blaine and
the new British minister began on January
% of this year, with very long letter from
the secretary to Sir Julian Pauncefote The
secretary opens with an acknowledgment
Of the receipt of the papers bearing on the
seizures made by the Rush. Secretary
Blaine says:
In the opinion of the president, the Canadian
vessels arrested and detained in Behring sea
were engaged In pursuit itself contra bonos
uorcs pursuit which. OF necessity, involves
serious and permanent injury to the rights Of
the governments and the people OF the United
States To establish this ground 1t is not neces
sary to argue the question Of the right or the
nature Of the sovereignty of this government
over the waters Of Behring ses; II is not neces-
sary to explain. certainly not 70 define. the pow.
ers and privileges ceded by his imperial
which the Alaskan territory was transferred 70
the United statea The weighty considerations
growing ont Of the acquisition OF that territory
with all the rights on land aud sea inseparably
| connected Herewith, may be safely left out Of
| view while the grounds are set forth upon
| which this government rests its Qualification
| for the action complained Of BY her msjesty's
/ government
The secretary then speaks OF the seal FISH
| cries. which were controlled by Russia
| without interference or question until the
cession Of Alaska to the United States in
| 1857. This undisturbed concession contin-
| ued to the United States until 1885, passing
/ whaling vessels abstaining from seal cap
ture. He says that this uniform absten-
| ton from all attempts to take fur seals in
these waters had been . constant recogni-
ton of right. held and exercised first BY
Russia and subsequently by this govern.
menf. II had also been = recognit ION O
| that the taking of seals in the open ses
rapidly leads TO their extinction.
In brief. such was the condition OF ths