Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1890-07-25

Our Rights in the Seal Fisheries
Must Be Respected.
4 Synopsis Of the Correspondence
Relative TO the Controversy
Over 6ehring Sea
rxeLE sAM,s rIkM srANp.


In his accompanying letter o; trans
initial 10 the President Secretar
Blaine, under date Of lar H4rb0r July
70, regrets tue delay ia transmission
which the President directed on TIE
nth inst. and says that the CORE
spondence IS still in progress The
correspondence includes thirty sep
arate papers, beginning with
letter from Mr.. Edwards. first secre-
tary OF legation and charge dafaires
after Minister Vests recall. dated An
gust -, 1859, and closing with one from
Secretary Blaine 10 Sir Julian Paunce-
fote, the British Minister, dated July
10 1880.
The correspondence during 1889 is
mostly preliminary, and the desire IS
expressed on both sides for a settlement
Of the question al tho earliest possible
moment. The seizure OF the sealers
Black Diamond and Triumph by the
revenue cntter Rush is mentioned and
characterized by the British foreign Of
fee as unwarranted by international
law
The correspondence between Secre-
tary Blaine and the new British Min
lister began January % Of this year with
a long letter from the Secretary 10 Sir
Julian Pauncefote. This letter may
be fairly taken as setting forth the po-
sition of the United States in the con
troversy.
In this letter tho Secretary defends
the acts complained of by the British
Government on the following grounds:
That the Canadian vessels arrested and dc
tanned in Behrine sea were engaged in pur-
suit contra bonos mOres, which OF necessity in
wolves serious and permanent INJURY 10
the Govern mcnt and people OF the United
States. That the fisheries had been Ia
the undi sturbed possession Of Russia
from their discovery until the cession
Of Alaska 10 the United States in 1867. and
from this date until 1886 in the undisturbcd
possession OF the United States Government
That IL IS fact now held beyond denial or
doubt that the taking Of seals in the open sea
rapidly leads 10 the extinction Of the
species He declares that while the
United States will not withhold from any
nation the privileges which they demand
ed for themselves, when Alaska was
part Of the Russian empire. they are not dis
posed 10 exercise in the possession any less
power or authority than they were willing TO
cOnCtNe 10 the Icfldl 0ONcfAHleht q RUSSIA
when its sovereignty extended over them. He
claims from friendly nations recognition OF
the same rights and privileges which the same
friendly nations always conceded 10 Russia.
On February 10 Sir Julian PaGnCeiotc writes
TO Secretary Blaine TO inform him that the
British Government was willing 10 invite the
participation OF Russia 10 renewed negotia-
lions for the settlement Of the controversy. A
letter from the Marquis OF Salisbury is also IN
Guided. In this The Marquis. replying 70 the
Secretarys argument that the seizures Of the
Canadian vessels were justified by the fact
that they were engaged in pursuit that is In
Itself contra bonos mores, inquiries:
First. whether the pursuit and killing Of fur
seas IN certain parts OF tie open sea is. from
the point Of view OF international morality. On
onense contra honos mores. and secondly. wheth-
or, II such ne the case, the fact justihos The
seizure on the high seas aud subsequent con-
6scation in time Of peace OF the private YES
sels OF friendly nation. II IS an
axiom Of international maritime Law
that such action IS Only admissible in the
case OF piracy or in pursuance Of special inter
national agreement TIE pursuit Of seals in
the open sea. under whatever circumstances.
has never hitherto been considered IS
piracy by any civilized state. IN the
case OF the slave trade, a practice which
the civilized world has agreed 20 LOOK
upon with adherence. the right OF arrest
ing the vessels Of another country IS ex-
ercised only by special international agree
Hent and no Government has been allowed
that general control OF mortals In this respec:
which Hr. Blaine claims on behalf Of the
United States Ia regard TO seal hunting. Her
Majesty's Government would deeply regret
that the pursuit OF fur seals on the high
seas by British vessels should involve
even the slightest injury 10 the people Of
the United States. II the case % proved they
-
properly taken for the remedy of such injury,
but they would be unable on that ground 10 de-
part from principal on which free commerce
/ On the high seas depends.
! The second argument advanced bv Mr.
Blaine is that the fur sea- fisheries o. BchT-
/ iugs sea had been exclusively controlled by
the Government az Russia from tne original
discovery until the oessiou Of Alaska % the
I United states IN 1851"
/ Resi- Getting Mr Blaine's Statement % the cx-
T elusive monopoly enjoyed bv Russia. the
MARQUIS Guofcs from Mr John oulnte Adams
+ letter % the United states Minister in Rlssia
3 (which nation in 1901 prohibited al fore IN
vessels from approaching within 10 mics
( from the coast O. Bearing straits 20 the ~ -
/ degree north lautudcl 20 the erect that
/ the United states could admit no part ~ these
? claims tie als3 cites the case a. TIE United
states brig Lar.ot 70 show that $50 rcht q
fishing thus asserted Included tho Ti-ht =
kiIiug far bearing animals. The brig was
forced 81 sn arled Russian naval vessel -
leave TIE waters &c also argues frau he
srecca "a NJ SUNNI. when iltro1uc ~ nc
question q TIE Purchase RI aka &C. congress.
in r1th le said 80 sea S. ncH mare
clausum au r. these may b. r-rs1ed oy soIp
ur1rr arv faz except e.reCt.e on fhe coast ~
within the territorial limit says the Mar
quis 70 conclusion
The rrertiarions now being ce-ied ~ -
r..
f,.s Gcrerruuert - CONSIDER whether sry sre-
ca ln-ernet .oaal egrceus1t is necessary ~
she rrotfttien n she fursCal Ine9-trf ln ia
as=srcr thy &c srarie fo aln-t fhat ~ case
rut f.rgard "a oehaH ~ the United niates a.
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tree r IS % laa t- sc-e re eaea ihe
H PRISE Nat l las q
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