The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-24


by an armed Russian naval vessel to leave
the waters. He also argues from the speech
of Summers when introducing the question
of the purchase of Alaska to Congress, that
it is equally clear that the United States
Government did not regard themselves as
purchasing monopoly.
EvADING THE QUESTION.
Having dealt with fur-bearng animals
he went on TO treat of other fisheries. and
after alluding to the presence of different
species of whales in the vicinity of the
Aleutians, said: "No sea is now mare
clausum, and all of these may be pursued
by ship under any flag except directly on
the cost or within the territorial limit"
The Marquis also says that Blaine must
have been misinformed respecting the un-
interrupted possession Of the United States
from 1867 to 1856, and submits extracts from
reports of United States officers to show
that during that time British vessels en-
gagged at intervals in fur-seal fishing with
the cogniZance of the United States Gov
ernment. He further states that whalers
have not heretofore engaged in.sealing be-
cause of the lack of time, and says he finds
il unnecessary to deal with the question of
the extinction of seals through peiagic seal
ing, as it is proposed to examine the subject
by committee appointed by the two Gov
ernments. He admits that if all such seal
ing is stopped seals would multiply at even
more extraordinary rate than at present.
but he cannot admit that this is sufficient
ground to justify the United States in for
ciby depriying other nations of any share
in this industry in waters which, by the
recognized law of nations, are now free to
all the world.
A FORMAL PROTEST.
The next letter in the series is from the
British Minister to Blaine, dated May 23d.
The Minister says: "As the Secretary has
confirmed the newspaper statements that
the revenue cutters have been ordered to
Behring Sea to seize foreign sealers, he Is
instructed to say that a formal protest
agains st such interference with British veS-
sells will be forwarded without delay"
BLAINE's COUNTER PROTEST.
Blaine's response three days later is even
more brief, being a simple acknowledge
ment of the receipt of the letter. Later,
hOwever-on the 29th = he wrote to Sir
Julian that in turn he is instructed by the
President to protest against the course OF
the British Government in authorizing. en-
couraging and protecting vessels which are
not only interfering with American rights
in the Behring Sea. but which are doing
violence as well to the rights of the civilized
world.
SALISBURY CoNTRADICTs HIMSELF,
1.-The President" he says. "is surprised
that such a protest should be authorized by
Lord Salisbury, especially because the pre-
vious declarations of his Lordshp would
seem to render it impossible" The Secre-
tary then rapidly sketches history of the
negotiations under the previous Admins
tration and says: "You will observe that
from the 11th Of November, 1887, to the 18th
of April, 1888, Lord Salisbury had in every
form of speech assented TO the necessity Of
a close season for the protection of seals.
These assurances were given to the Ameri-
can Minister, to the American Charge
q Affaires and to the Russian ambassador,
and on more than one occasion to two of
them together The United States had no
reason. therefore. to doubt that the whole
dispute touching on the seal fisheries was
practically settled"
WANTED To HEAR FROM CANADA.
Continuing, Secretary Blaine says that
five days after that assurance Lord Sails
bury said that neither an act of Parliament
nor an order in the Council could be
drafted until Canada is heard from. Mr..
Phelps in his dispatch dated September
18th reported that 'his Lordship stated
that the Canadian Government objected to
any such restrictions, and until its consent
could be obtained her Majesty's Govern
ment was not willing to enter into con-
vention."
JUST COMPLAINT.
Says the Secretary: "This Government
cannot but feel that Lord Salisbury would
have dealt more frankly if in the beginning
he had so informed Minister Phelps. The
British Government would assuredly and
rlghtfully complain if an agreement be-
tween her representative and representa-
tive of t. Shited States should, without
notice, be broken off by the United States
Oh the ground that the State of California
was not willing. 1t should be completed"
In conclusion he proposes, IN behalf OF the
President that her Majesty's Government
agree not TO permit vessels to enter Behring
Sea this season, in order that time may be
secured for negotiations that shall not be
disturbed by untoward events or unduly in
fiuenced by popular agitation.
A TEMPORARY AGREEMENT.
On June I'd the Secretary writes to Sir
Julian that "the President believes that the
arbitration cannot be concluded In time Tor
this season, and suggests that Lord Sails
bury make for single season the regula-
tion which in 1888 he offered to make per-
manent as a step which would certainly
lead to a friendly agreement"
To this the Minister replied on June Sd
that further examination OF the question
has satisfied his LOrdship that such an eX-
treme measure as that proposed in 1888 goes
far beyond the requirements OF the case.
There would be no legal power to enforce
the observance of such an agreement on
British vessels.
THE PRESIDENT DISAPPOINTED
Secretary Blaine replying June 4th says:
- ile extreme measure came from LOrQ
Salisbury himself" aud concludes: THE
President does not conceal his disappoint-
ment that even for the sake of securing par
tial arbitration, her Majesty's Government
is not willing to suspend for single sea-
son the practice which Lord Salisbury de-
scribed iii 1888 as the wantOn destruction
of valuable industry and which this
Government has uniformly regarded as an
unpIovoked invasion of its established
rights"
A TELEGRAM FROM SALISBURY.
On June 9th Sir Julian Pauncefote pre-
sented copy OF telegram from Lord Sal
isbury, in which he regrets that the Presi-
dent should think he is wanting in concili-
alton, but that it is beyond the power of his
Government to exclude British or Cana
dian ships from any portion of the high
seas, even for an hour, without legislative
enactment.
In his reply on the 18th, Secretary Blaine
says this Government would be satisfied If
Lord Salisbury would by proclamation
from entering Behring Sea for the present
season, in order to give full time for Impair
tial negotiations.
NO BACKDowN.
Sir Julian on June 18th wrote to Blaine
that he had informed Lord Salisbury that
Secretary Blaine could not give assurance
that British sealing vessels would not be
lnterfereu with uurlng the negotiations,
and expressed the hope that his decision is
not final, and that while there is yet time
the commanders of United States revenue
cruisers will be instructed to abstain.
ANOTHER PROTEST.
On June 14th, however, the Minister,
with regret at failing to secure a favorable
reply, presented formal protest from the
British Government. In his protest he
says in part: 1.-THE British Government
cannot admit the right of the United States,
of their own sole motion, to restrict the
freedom of navigation in Behripg Sea, nor
10 enforce municipal legislation against
British vessels or the high seas. Her
Britannia Majesty's Government is there
fore unable to pass over without notice the
public announcement of the intention on
the part of the United States to renew the
acts of interference with British vessels in
their navigation outside the territorial
waters of the United States, OF which they
had previously to complain. The Minis
ter is, in consequence, instructed formally
to protest against such interference and to
declare that her Britannia Majesty's Gov
ernment must hold the Government of the
United States responsible for any conse-
Quences that may ensue from acts which are
contrary to the established principles of in
ternatlonal law"
COOI. PROPOsITION