The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-24

States, but also the rights OF good government
and good morals the world over, In this con-
h has no occasion and no desire to withdraw OF
modify the positions which 1t has ut any time
maintained against the claims q the mnera,
Viii Il den" demanded iortssf When Alaska Was
ernment OF the United States DISPOSED, TO
exercise in those, possessions, any less
cede to the imperial Government OF Russia
when its sovereignty EXTENDED oyer them. The
President Is nerfHaIed thqt 81 friendly M M
same rights and privileges on the lands and IN
the waters Of Alaska which the same friendly
! nations always conceded to tho empire oil
! Russia"
SIR JULIAN PAUNCEFoTE TO SECRETARY BLAINE.
Sir Julian Pauncefote on Feb. 10 addressed
| MIR. Blaine a letter informing him that his
Government was willing to adopt the sugges-
tion made In the course Of their interviews.
that the, trinarttte neeoti9tion suspended In
| London In 1888 be resumed in Washington
Two numbers in the corresnondence, are
made up OF q printed pamphlet Containing liii a
professional experts and Officers q the i nited
| States to demonstrate that the killing OF seals
In the open sea tends certainly and RAPIDLY to
| tho eXtermnntion OF the species, Ihis is
transmitted Dy MIR. Blaine to the British Min
lister with prefer OF further evidence, II 1t is
On April 80 Sir Julian Pauncefote wrote Mr.
| Blaine in answer his invitation for counter
| proposal for a settlement thar. as the sole OBJ
| iect OF the negotiations was tho preservation
| OF the fur seal species, regardless OF advan-
tages to any particular nation or private inter
| est Il would be strange II there should be n
| failure TO devise the means OF solving the
difficulties which had arisen; In view OF the
public opinion In Canada or Great Britaih
Without n full inquiry by u mixed Commission
Meanwhile. no was prepared to recommend
to his Government certain provisional and
sion OF the depletion OF the fur zeal species
lending the renort OF tho Commission. lie
then cites Mr.; TinGle aud Mr. Elliott as az.
was on the increase. and the Hon. Mr.. Tupner
10 show. that the. destruction caused by pelagic
caused by tho natural enemies OF the seal. He
argues further that the destructive nature OF
i Ire has apparently been GreatiS eXagger-
ated. az may be seen from number OF
afidavits OF practical seal hunters, which he
prepared and published In San Francisco and
designed for tho information OF Eastern Con-
gressmen. The Canadian Government esti-
mate the percentage OF seals wounded or killed
and not recovered at six Per cent The Minis
:" But in order to quiet all apprehension on
that score, would proposo the following pro-
II. That peiaeic sealing should be prohib-
tied In the Behring Sea, the Sea OF Ochotsk.
and the adjoining waters during the months
October sn N OVEN s%1 and Ger beT4w6e6
may be termed the migration periods OF tho
~ That all sealing vessels should be, pro-
hibited from approaching the breeding islands
within radius OF ten miles,
These regulations would put stop to the
two practices complained OF as tending to ex-
terminate the species; firstly the slaughter OF
periods. especially in the narrow passes OF
the Aleutian Islands; secondly, the destrue-
tiously landing on the breeding Islands under
cover OF the dense foGs which, almost contip-
noIsy prevail In that locality during the sum-
Malestys Government. would certainly mani
fest friendly desire on their part to copper
In the protection OF their rook erles and in the
prevention OF an, violation Of the laws appli-
close the draft of preliminary convention
which | have, prepared providing Tor the
appontment OF mixed Haomamissl9n who G.s ere
two years. The draft embodies the temporary
regulations above described. together with
give proper efrect to them. Although Believe
that 1t would be sufficient during the 'mtgra-
specified distance from the passes Of the
Aleutian Islands. have. out Of Difference to
lister adopted the fishery line described In ar
tice 5, and which was suggested BY YOU at
the outset OF our negotiations. The draft; OF
convention. after full examination of the
report OF the mixed Commission. It also
by arbitration Of any differences, which the re-
port OF the Commission may still fail to adI Just,
secured and in order to give to the proposed
arrangement the widest international basis
the draft provides that the other powers shall
1.-THE above proposals are. of course. sub
mitted ad referendum. and 1t only now re-
able consideration and to that Of the Russian
Minister. They have been framed by mo in
most earnest desire to terminate the contro-
versy in manner honorable TO ali parties and
worthy OF the three great nations concerned"
THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY REPLIES TO ME-.
BLAINE.
The MARQUIS OF Salisbury under date OF May
% last, In letter to the British Minister, after
saying that the, negotiations between Mr..
to hope that the question is in fair way to-
ward satisfactory adjustment. undertake es to
the seres were asted bS
that is bch Itself Is s9mTS 5SMSs 0rss.a
Of the sGoveFnment ~ and people o., the
obvious that two questions, are involved
first whether the pursuit and killing Of fur
the point Of view Of International morality. an
whether. Il such be the case. this, fact jus1i1es
vessels Of a friendly nation" He adds:
law that such action is only admissible in the
case Of piracy or in puE rs Of special inter.
universally admitted by iurists. and was Very
distinctly laid down BY President Tyler In his |
special message to Congress. dated 9th Feb |
rpery lSt3 when. after acknowledging the
right to detain and search vessel on sus- |
plcon Of piracy, he goes on to say: With this
peace, any authority to detain the ships OF an
other upon the high seas, on any pretext what
ever. outside the territorial Jurisdiction.
Now the pursuit OF seals In the open sea. under
whatever circumstances has Fever hitherto
been considered as, piracy by any civilized
80 far as to MAKE tho killing of fur seals piracy
by their municipal law. would this have justi-
fled them In furnishing offences against such
law committed by any persons other than their
own citizens outside the territorial Iursdic-
tion OF the United States. In tho case OF the
slave trade. a practice which the civilized
renee. the right OF arresting the vessels OF an
other country Is exercised only by special in
ment has been allowed that general control OF
morals in this respect which Mr.. Blaine claims
on behalf OF the United States in regard to seal
hunting.
But her Maiesty's Government must 1ues-
ton whether this pursuit can itself DO re-
Rarded a6 contra bOnOs n0rPs, unless and
until for special reasons IL has been agreed by
International arrangement to forbid IL. Fur
seals arc indisputab animals terri nature,
and these have universally been regarded by
jurtstS Mullins until they are