New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-24
0@uac

1t was IN 1888. hat of Great Britain has changed
10 meet the clamor and prejudices Of a Province.
A few days afterward Mr Blaine informed Sir
Julian that he has been authorized by the Pres-
dent; with view to proving the good faith Of
the United States In the matter to offer the ac-
ceptance of Lord Salsbury's proposal of 1883 for
one season, some sort of arrangement seeming
desirable in view of the sealing now close
on hand. On June 3, however, Sir Julian re-
iected this more than liberal offer, and Mr.. Blaine
on the following d1y June a expresses to Sir
Julian the Presidents disappointment that even
for the sake OF securing impartial arbitration Of
the question at Issue, Her Maiestys Government
Is not willing tn suspend. for single season, the
practice which Lord Salisbury in 1885 describes
as the wanton destruction of valuable industry
and which this Government has uniformly re-
garded as an unprovolIed invasion of its es-
tablshed rights
SIR JULIAN's BOLD BLUFF IGNORED.
In the meantime news had been received Of
the seizures by American revenue cruisers Of
Canadian poachers; and this led Sir Julian, under
instructions from his Government, 10 hand in the
formal protest already referred to- against further
seizures pending negotiations holding at the same
time the United States responsible for the con-
sequences" This note will be found in full further
on.
Then there comes a lull in the correspondence.
The boldness of the bluff on the part of SIR
Julian seems TO have deprived him of his breath
almost CuriOusly enough, Mr.. Blaine doesn't
appear to have worried over il much. Al least
there appears no reply from him, except formal
acknowledgment of the protest Two weeks
EtttT, UONeNtT-UlIue enough 10 HdNc Htdlu iiohi
the Foreign Office in London-Sir Julian renews
the charge by proposing arbitration as TO the
question of the legality Of seizures made
by the United States. To a previous sug-
gSstion of Mr. Blaines. that pending negotia-
tions, British vessels should be prohibited from
going into the Behring Sea for sealing purposes,
he replies that though not empowered TO do SO
under the constitution the Government of Great
Britain will issue n proclamation 10 that effect IL
the United States will guarantee TO pay losses in
cured by sealers through their failure to 20 on
tbpir nra1a pNcurSionS and because of their
great kindness in being willing TO obey the ora
ders Of their Government.
IL is needless to say that Mr.. Blaine did not
entertain for one moment so preposterous
proposition, and on June 80 he addressed a note
of great length to Sir Julian, which deserves to be
read carefully by every one interested In thc
question at issue 1t is, without doubt,
one of the ablest State papers which has
emanaed from the State Department within the
present generation. synopsis of it must neces-
| sarly be unsatisfactory. Ii ought to ne read IN
full to be properly appreciated. In 1t Mr. Blaine
discusses fully, but with fairness, the shallow
claim which Lord Salisbury had sought TO erect
upon the basis OF Nj. Adams's letter 10 the Amer
lean Minister in 81. Petersburg, while Secretary
Of State, in which the protest OF the United
States was filed against the extension by the Cow
eTnment Of the Emperor Alexander OF the territorial
jurisdiction as established by his predecessor, the
Emperor Paul The latter. Mr.. Blaine points out
! forcibly, was never objected 10 by tie Inlted
states; the contrary, it was distinctly acknowi-
edged and il is this authority when
came to the United States under the cession
| Of Alaska il was the extension of this terrl-
tOrial Jurisdiction from "a degrees and 40 minutes
north to So degrees which the Government OF
the Emperor Alexander sought TO establish that
! brought out Mr.. Adamss protest, and 10 Whlcn
| the Russian Government in the end yielded.
MR.. BLAINE SUPERIOR TO HIS OPPONENTS.
In the course of the discussion of this feature
in the controversy Mr.. Blaine displays all the
! powers of an accomplished diplomat and interna-
tional jurist lie turns the propositions OF Sir
Julian into incontrovertibe arguments to prove
the Justice Of the American claim. and
oyershadows his opponents by the force
of his logic as much as by the lucldlty OF his
! dction But ne scores bis greatest triumph when
he convcts Lord Salisbury, in language TOO PLAIN
| TO be misunderstood, though entirely within the
| circumscribed limits OF polite diplomatic inter-
course of having garbed 10 suit his own purposes
an extract from Mr.. Adams's letter of instruction
| 10 the American Minister in St petersburg, Dy
/ the eXcsion of important and absolutely es-
spntial reference to tlme by q substitution III
punctuation of period for a comma, ana by the
| omission of part of a sentence which not only
/ amplihes what precedes 1t but actually changes
| the entire sense of the passage.
| The last note in this interesting and important
correspondence, bearing date 9f July ~ Is also,
| though short a last and telling shot at Lord
! Salisbury. The latter. II seems, coht"hdSu tnao
| the negotiations in 1sSS were broken on because
Mr. Phelps then American Minister In LONDON,
had said that il would be useless 10 continue
/ thep1 i'm view of the elections at that time aooub
to n kc place in the United States. II may wei
/ be doubled if Mr. Phelps ever made use ol such
I ar similar lan1 1uaTc. Inc UllSl hHNl w"
/ ~ t,Ite of Lord Salisbury's assertion Is 10 say
that he misunderstood Mr.. Phelps But whether
hc did or not. Mr.. Blaine shows by referring 10
letters now on file in the Department ana IN ne
Tr,i,,r orice in London that rs a matter Of tact,
tbr negotiations were continued long after the
elections of 1855. 1t will be difficult for LORD
/ Salisbury to explain this away. though ne may nay
/ attempt il. in view Of his INSTRUCTIONS 10 nn
.Jnlian. which the correspondence, now made puo'
, lie for the first time, dscoSeS :. ..,..o,.,.s,,
The negotiations in this difficult controversy
T. H1pf
ments submitted herewith, are monument 70 ms
saaacty no less than his patriotism Oharaclfr,
iged nv firmness not buster: animated by desire
.]'r W "b ,| an bonora bic and permanent settlement
rotbcr than illusory gains, and marked by slngu-
lar diqnity and breadth Of statesmanShlp, they
Will reflect credit upon thu Administrator no
serves and upon his own person, 10 matter "h@s
! tbe ultimate outcome may be.