The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-21
IT MAY MEAN WAR.
The President Determind to Enforce The
Law in Relation b Sealing.

NEW YORK, Dec. 2d-A Washington
special Says that President Harrison ex-
poets to accompany his transmission to Con-
gress OF further papers relating to the Beh-
ring Sea controversy With special message
expressing his views respecting the rights
and claims of the United States connected
with the seal fisheries, the comparative
merits of the conduct and position of the
two Governments since the first seizure in
1856, and the duty of Congress in the pres
ent position OF the question. The message
is to be framed with special reference to the
pending proposal of the British Government
Tor arbitration, which proposal it is in
tended to reject.
The personal bitterness between Blaine
and Lord Salisbury that has arisen out OF
tne course OF the negotiations is perceived
mere TO constitute material objection to
the continuance of efforts toward settle
ment. espe cially after the diplomatic rela-
lions between the two Governments shall
have been further strained by the energetic
manner IN which Blaine is preparing to show
up the holl0wDesS afSl. .unfaIness of the
British arbitration prht.
1t is because of the X sming hopelessness
of the prospect of sqNk.ment by peacefti
means. and of tile nseestity Of almost in-
stantly resolving upon a new course Of con-
duct Tor the United States, that the PresI-
before Congress- and to apply for legislative
assistance III the shaping and enforcing OF
policy for the immediate future.
The pending British proposal is to refer to
the determination OF friendly and impartial
arbitration the question whether the seiz-
ures OF British sealing vessels by the United
States were or were not lawful seizures. To
this form OF the proposed submission of the
case TO arbitration, the President strenu-
ousiy objects, and he never will agree to it
unless Congress shall assume the RESPONSE
blllty, IN some mode yielding adherence toll
The President win give Congress to un-
derstand that in the present state of the mat
ter he perceives neither authority nor rea son
to abstain next season from the literal en-
iorcement OF the provisions of the law for
the protection of fur-seals in Alaska and
the waters thereof He will ask Congress
1or liberal appropriation to meet the ex-
penSe OF hitting out chartered vessels to
serve as revenue vessels, in sufficient num-
Der and character TO capture and dispose of
the numerous marauding vessels expected
TO enter BebrIng Sea next year.
NEW DIRK. Dec 21.-A dispatch to the
Herald from Washington says: Sir Julian
Panneefote expresses his surprise that there
should be any difficulty in bringing the
Behrlng Sea dispute To arbitration. "Both
Great Britain and the United States" said
ne, while differing upon the facts bear
ing upon the question, have n common
object which seems susceptible of submis-
sion to arbitration. The form of submission
referred 10 by the President in his annual
message is simply an offer upon the part of
England to lay the dispute before the arbi-
trating power. The Behring Sea dispute is
far less grave than the Alabama claims
case, which was submitted to arbitration
without friction. What was done so readily
tnen can surely be repeated now, if both
parties are sincere, which cannot doubt"