Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-07-11
MAKE IT PUBLIC
The Behring Sea Correspondence
With Great Britain.
So Says the National House OF
Representatives.

cent Sensational Stories which Have
Been Going the Rounds of the Papers.
No Serious Trouble Exists and Ameri-
cans Should Know the Truth.
WASHINGTON, July IA resolution
was reported from the committee on
foreign affairs and adopted by the house
Wednesday calling upon the president
for copies of such parts of the CORE
spondence between Great Britain and
the United States in regard to the
Behring sea controversy as he may
think it proper at this time to submit to
congress. There could be no stronger
proof Of the non-existence of serious
trouble between the two countries than
the unanimous report of such resolu-
tion from a committee which is at all
times in close communication with the
state department.
Nothing Serious.
If there was the slightest reason for
concealment, or if the negotiations were
in the strained or broken condition al
legged by the sensationalists. the chair
man Uf the house committee on foreign
affairs would be very likely to receive a
hint not to bother the secretary of state
through the president with calls for
correspondence at this time. Therefore
the fact that Chairman Hit sees fit to
report such resolution indicates that
he has received word from Secretary
Blaine that there is nothing that cannot
now be made known. Toput itstronger.
so much has been said of the existence
of serious trouble between England and
the United States the state department
is anxious to give out the correspond
ence to show the country and the world
that there is none, and hence the resolu-
tiOn.
Facts Should BE Known.
Mr.. McCreary, of Kentucky, in ask
ing for the adoption of the resolution
explained that there was nothing III the
situation so far as the committee knew
which would not yield to diplomatic
negotiation but so much had been
printed of another tenor in certain
newspapers, it would be better to have
the facts made known. Besides the
presence of British tleet-of-war vessels
in the northern waters needed some ex-
Dlanation.
Jurisdiction Disputed.
The jurisdiction Of the United States
over Behling sea has been seriously dis
puted by foreign powers since 1885,
when the invention of . new seal gun
made open sea sealing profitable. and onsa
behalf Of the Victoria sealers the Brit
ish government set up the claim that
the Behring was not closed sea, Since
the middle of the eighteenth century
Russia claimed exclusive control of the
Behring sea, because OF its Alaskan pos
sessions, the ownership of the Aleutiap
islands. and the right of discovery,
These claims We're never disputed. In
1867 the United States purchased Alas
ka, with all the seas and islands west
for the sum Of s.. 800. .00o.i I'm this way
it succeeded to Russia's rights in the
Behring.
After England's claim Of 1885 there
was soma dispute as to the application
of the Alaskan fishery laws to all the
Behring, and to remove all doubt, con.
gress on March .. 1889, passed special
law declaring that the fishery laws APP
piled to the whole of the seas and
islands. The Victoria sealers publicly
said that they would not obey that law,
and a few days later President Harrison
issued Il proclamation notifying all per-
sons that ships caught in the Behring
sea, or with contraband sealskins on
board, would be seized and confiscated.
Despite this proclamation twenty-five
sealers fitted ont i'll Victoria. four in
Puget sound and sixteen in San Fran
cisco. The Black Diamond was the
first one seized by the Rush. which was
sent to the Behrng to enforce the law.
President Harrison gave this subject !
attention in his first annual message,
and diplomatic correspondence has been
proceeding over since.
Farquhar's Views.
Congressman Farquhar, of New York. |
who investigated this subject with |
Chairman Dingley and other members |
of the merchant marine and fisheries |
committee Of the Fiftieth congress. said
at that time: This country will go |
right ON asserting and maintaining its |
jurisdiction over the Behring sea fisher
les. and England can't say word in |
earnest about the matter. Russia stands |
ready to make good our title, derived by |
purchase from her. There is no doubt |
about Rnssia's disposition in the matter. |
They guaranteed us title, and England |
cannot seriously question without an |
tagonizing Russia. If she went into a
fight she would have two antagonists. |
This is clearly understood in England, |
nc wall in R1esia au1 A