Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-07-31
BLAINE VS.. SALISBURY.
ON SEAL FISHING IN THE BEH-
RING SEA.
History Of the Negotiations Between tho
United states and Great Britain Reia-
tive to the ssal MISUNDERSTANDING
BlRine's Position.


United states and Great Britain Rela-
tive to the ssal Fisheries-secretary
BlRine's Position.
Washington speciall
Following is the official correspond
ence between Secretary Blaine aud Lord
Salisbury, touching the seal fisheries of
the Behring Sea, sent to the House Of
Representatives by the President. in an
swer to the resolution introduced by
Representative Hit. of Ill nois:
The correspondence between Secretary Blaine
and the new British minister began Jan. ~ Of
this year with long letter from the Secretary
to Sir Julian Pauncefote. This letter may be
fairly taken as setting FORTH the position of the
Onited STATES In the controversy. The Secretary
I'm the opinion OF the President the Canadian
vessels arrested and detained in the Behring
Sea were engaged In apursuit that was in itself
contra bonos mores, pursuit which OF neces-
sity involves serious and permanent in
Jury to the rights OF the government and
people OF the United ates. To establish
this ground Il is not necessary to argue the
question OF The extent and nature of the sov-
ereignty OF this Government over the waters OF
the Behring sea. 1t Is not neces sary to explain
certainly not TO define, the powers and priv
fleges ceded by his Imperial Majesty the EN-
peror OF Russia in the treaty by which the
Alaskan territory was transferred to the United
States. The weghty onsideretions growing
out OF the acquisition of that territory with all
the rights on land and sea inseparably connect
ed herewith, may be safely left out of view
while the grounds are set forth upon which
this Government rests its justification for the
action complained Of by her Majesty's Govern
maut."
4he Secretary then speaks Of the value OF the
zeal fisheries which were controlled by Russia
without interference or question until the cos
sion OF Alaska to the United States in 1867
This undisturbed possession continued to the
united states until 1886, passing whaling ves-
sells abstaining from seal capture. He says
that this uniform avoidance Of all attenlpts To
take fur seal in those waters had been a con-
stant recognition OF the right held and exer-
cised, first by Russia and subsequently by this
dovernment. IL bad also been the recognition
ehv aS.sfls ~ s.'.' IssI'luI5 Ionus
TO their extinction.
The Secretary, continuing, says that this is
proved not only by expert testimony but by the
total destruction OF all seal fisheries except the
one in the Behring sea, which the Government
ot Uf 'ng r tSs - now ~ ny 70
pie, but for the use OF the world at large. He
recites the successful efforts OF the United
States Government to improve and preserve the
fisheries. resulting In the payment OF more than
Sl2, 2,000, 900 to English laborers for the prepara
tion Of the sealskins and the elevation to civili
zation Of natives OF Alaskan islands he says {:
$50 great has been the injury to the fisheries
from the irregular and destructive slaughter Of
seals In the open waters OF the Behring Sea by
Canadian vessels, that whereas tie Govern
ment had allowed 100000 to be taken annually
for q series OF years, IL is now compelled to re-
duce the number to 60.0O0 II four years of this
violation Of natural law and neighbors rights
has reduced the annual slaughter of seal by 40
per cent, 1t is easy to zee how short a period
will be required to work the total destruction OF
the fisheries
aThis Government has been ready tc concsde
much in order to adjust all differences of view,
and has, in the judgment Of the President, al
ready proposed a solution not only equitable but
generous. Thus far h,r Mnjesty's Government
has declined to accept the proposal of the United
States. The President now awaits with deep In
Majesty's Government may submit. The forci-
BILE resistance to which this Government is con-
strained in the Behring Sea is, in the Presidents
judgment mauded, not only by the necessity
OF defending the traditional long-establis he'd
rights of the United States, but also the rights
OF good government and good morals the world
over.
@Nor is the Government OF the United States
disposed to exercise In those possessions any
less power or authority than 1t was willing to
concede to the imperial government Of Russia asia
President Is persuaded that all friendly nations
will concede to the United States the same
rights aId nregess on The the lands and1 snd IN 1ae
tions always conceded to the Empire OF Russia"
The Marquis Of Salisbury, under date of May
% last IN letter to the British Minister, re-
plies to Mr.. Blaine's arguments
1T requires something moro than mere
declaration that the Government or citizens Of
the United States, or even other countries In
tain course Of proceeding to render that course
All immoral one.
"Her Maeesty's Government would deeply re-
gret that the pursuit Of fur seals on the high
seas by BEitish vessels should involve even the
slightest injury to the people of the United
States. II the case be proved they will be
ready to consider what measures can be prop
erly taken for the remedy Of such injury, but
tsey ss;y, ,,si u; nrcn lfee conInefce On the
high seas depends"
Says the Marquis In conclusion;
@The negotiations now being carried on at
Washington prove the readiness Of her Majes-
tvs Government to consider whether any spe-
clal International agreement is necessary for
the protection Of the fur-seal industry. In It's
absence they are unable to admit that the case
put forward on behalf of the United States at-
lords any sufficient justification for the forcible
action already taken by them against peaceable
ations on the high seas"
The thirtieth and last letter Of the mass Of
correspondence which would, II printed entire
hll over twenty newspaper columns, was nd
dressed by Mr.. Blaine TO Sir Julian Pauncefote
from Bar Harbor. In it the Secretary says
Il am instructed by the President to say that
the United Stetes 10 willing to consider all the
proceedings of April 16 1883, as cancelled, SO far
as American rights may be concerned. This
Government will ask Great Britain to adhere
only to the agreement made between Lord Sails
bury and Mr.. Phelps ON the 18th OF February,
1885, That was an agreement made directly be-
tween the two Governments and did not include
the rights Of Russia. Asking Lord Salisbury to
adhere to the agreement of February 25 we leave
the agreement of April 1G to be maintained, II
maintained at all. by Russia, for whose cause
and for whose advantage 1t was particularly