Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-24
THE INSIDE HISTORY.
Continued from First Page.

| Continued from First Page.
arrested and detained in the Behring Sea were
engaged in the pursuit that was 10 itself contra
bonos mores, pursuit which of necessity
| involves serious and permanent injury TO the
| rights of the Government and people OF the
| United States. To establish this ground 1t is
| not necessary to argue the question OF the ex-
tent and nature of the sovereignty OF TINS
| Government over the waters OF the Behrlng
| Sea; it is not necessary to explaln-certalniy
! not to defina-the powers and privileges ceded
| bv His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor OF
| Russia, in the treaty by which the AIaskan
| Territory was transferred to the United States.
| The weighty considerations growing out of the
acquisition of that Territory, with all the rignts
| on land and sea, inseparably connected tnere-
| with. may be safely left out of view while the
| grounds are set forth upon which tins Goyern-
| ment resIs its justification for the action com,
| planned of by Her Majesty's Government
| The Secretary then speaks of the value OF the
| seal fisheries which were controlled bv Russia
| without interference or question until the ees-
sion OF Alaska to the United States In 1851.
A CONSTANT RECOGNITION.
This andsturbed possession continued to the
United States until 1856, passing whaling YES
sells abstaining from seal capture.
He says that this uniform avoidance of all
attempts to take fur seal in those waters had
been a constant recognition of the right held
and exercised, first by Russia and subsequently
by this Government. 1t had also been the
| recognition of fact now held beyond denial
or doubt, that the taking OF seals in the open
| sea rapidly leads to their extinction.
| The Secretary continuing, says: "Whence
| did the ships OF Canada derive the right to do
| in 1885 that which they refrained from doing
for more than go yearsf Upon what grounds
| did Her MajeSty's Government defend in the
| year 1856 course of conduct in the Behring
| Sea which she had carefully avoided ever since
| the discovery of that sea? Bv what reasoning
| did Her Majesty's Government conclude that
an act may be committed with impunity
against the rights of the United States which
has never been attempted against the
same rights when held by the Rus,
injury to the fisheries from the irreg.
ular and destructive slaughter of
seals in the open waters OF the
Behring Sea by Canadian vessels. that whereas,
the Government had allowed 100000 to be
taken annually for a series of years, It Is now
compelled to reduce the number to 6O.OVu II
neighbors and rights has reduced the annual
slaughter of seal by 40 per cent 1t is easy 70 see
how short period will be required to work the
total destruction OF the fisheries.
A PARALLEL CASE.
"The ground upon which Her Majesty's
Government justifies, or at least defends, the
course of the Canadian vessels rests upon the
fact that they are committing their acts of de-
struction on the high seas. viz: More than three
marine miles from the shore line. 1t is doubt
full whether Her Majesty's Government
IL
we're made to interfere with the pearl
fisheries of Ceylon. which extend more than 20
miles from the shore line and have been en-
ioyed by England without molestation ever
since their acquisition. So well recognized Is
the British ownership Of these fisheries, regard
less of the limit Of the three miles. that Her
Majesty's Government feels authorized TO sell
the pearl fisheries right from year to year to
the highest bidder. Nor is 1t creditable that
modes of fishing on the Grand banks altogether
practicable. but highly destructive, would be
JUSTIFIED or even permitted by Great Britain on
the plea that the vicious acts were committed
more than three miles from shore.
One step beyond that which Her Majesty's
Government has taken In this contention and
piracy finds its jurisdiction. The President
does not conceive 1t possible that Her Majesty's
Government could in fact be less Indifferent to
these evil results than is the United States
Government, but he hopes that Her Majestys
Government will, after this frank expression
of views, more readily comprehend the posi-
tion of the Government of the United States
touching this serious question. This Govern
ment has been ready to concede much to adjust
all differences of view. and has, in the judg-
ment of the President. already proposed a So
luton, not only equitable. but generous. Thus
far Her Majesty's Government has declined to
accept the proposal of the United States. The
President now awaits with deep interest, not
unmixed with soleltude, any, proposition for
reasonable adjustment which her Majesty's
Government may submit The
rOhO1oLE hEolS1ANSE
to which this Government is constrained in the
Behring Sea is in the Presidents judgment
demanded not only by the necessity OF defend |
ing the traditional long-established rights of |
the United States, but also the rights of good |
government and good morals the world over. |
In this contention the Government of the |
United States has no reason and no desire to |
with draw OF modify the positions which it has |
at any time maintained against the claims of |
the Imperial Government of Russia. The |
United States will not withhold from any ma |
tion the privileges which it demanded for itself
when Alaska was part of the Russian Empire. |
Nor is the Government of the United States !
disposed to exercise in those possessions any |
less power OF authority than it was willing to |
concede to the Imperial Government Of Russia |
when its sovereignty extended over them. The |
President is persuaded that all friendly ma |
tions will concede to the United States the |
same rights and privileges on the lands and in |
the waters of Alaska which the same friendly |
nations always conceded to the Empire of Rus |
sia."
Sir Julian Pauncefote addressed Mr.. Blaine
letter informing him that his Government
was willing to adopt the suggestion made in the
course of their interviews that the tr1partite
negotiation suspended in London in 1883 be re-
sumed in Washington. April so. SIR Julian
Pauncefote wrote Mr.. Blaine, in answer to his
invitation for a counter proposal for a settle
meut, that as the sole object of the negotiations
was the preservation of the fur seals species
a. |
tion or private interest, it would be strange if
there should be a failure to devise the means
of solving the difficulties which had arisen. In
view of the divergent views held. no solution
would satisfy public opinion in Canada or
Great Britain without full inquiry by
mixed commission of experts.
THE BRITISH PROPOSITION.
The Minister says. "But in order to quiet all
apprehension on that score would propose the
following provisional regulations: First that
PelaGic sealing shall be prohibited in the
Behring Sea, the Sea of Ochotsk and the ad-
joining waters during the months of May and
June and during the months of October No
vember and December. which may be termed
the migration periods of the fur seal, Sec
ond, that all sealing vessels should be prohib-
tied from approaching the breeding islands
within q radius of 10 miles These regulations
would put stop to the two practices com
planned of as tending to exterminate the
the slaughter of female seals
with young during the migration periods es-
pecially in the narrow passes of the Aleutian |
Islands: secondly, the destruction of female
seals by maurauders surreptitiousy landing on
the breeding islands under cover of the ense
fogs which almost continuously prevail in that |
locality during the summer. These regulations |
If accepted by Her Majestys Government,
would certainly manifest friendly de-ire on |
their part to cooperate with your Government
and that of Russia in the protection of their
rockeries and in the prevention of any viola
ton of the laws applicable thereto"
The Marquis of Salisbury, under date of Nav
2 last, a letter to the British Minister after
.aying that the negotiations between Mr.
Blaine and the Minister affords strong reason TO
hope that the question is in fair way toward a
adjustment, undertakes to reply to
hr. Blaine's arguments, relative to the state
nent that the seizures were justified by the .
act they were engaged in pursuit that is in :
tself contra mores-a pursuit, which of neces.
ty, involved u serious and permanent injury
o the rights OF the Government and people of
he United States. The Marquis says it is obvi-