The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-24
THE BEIIRlNG SEA DISPUTE.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN Score.
TARY BL1INE AND THE BRITISH
MINISTER Ar WASuINGTON

tho Seizure OF Canadian Senlorn, Ana
Disputes tho Claim of tho Waited States
to n Monopoly or BehrIng Sea-seeros
tnry BIaIne piles by Inquiring Wheneo
Great Britain Acquired the Right 90 Ne
Since 1850 what shS Never CIAiasd
the Right 90 DO When Alaska Was
Subject to tho Russian Empire.
WASHINGTON, July 23.-The President to-day
cen; to tho House OF Representatives. in an
swer 70 the resolution introduced by Repre-
sentative Hit tho Official correspondence OF
the United States and the Government Of
Great Britain touching the seal fisheries OF the
BehrinG Sea, In his accompanying letter OF
transmittal to tho President Secretary Blaine.
under date OF Bar Harl or. July 49, regrets the
delay in transmission, which the President di.
rected on the 18th inst, and says that the cor
respondenco is still in progress. The CORE
spondence includes thirty separate papers, be-
ginning with letter from Mr.. Edwardes First
Secretary Of Legation and Charg6 d'AfIaires
after Minister Vests recall, dated Aug. "a,
1889. and closing with ono from Secretary
Blaine 10 Sir Julian Pauncefote. the British
Minister, dated July 10. 1890. The nrst letter
reads as follows
Mr.. EDwARDEs TO MR.. BLAINE.
BAR HARBoE. Aug "a. 1889.
STR: In accordance with instructions which
have received from her MaJesty's Principal
Secretary OF State for Foreign Affairs. have
the honor to state to you that repeated rumors
have Of late reached her Majostys Govern.
mont that United States cruisers have STOP
ped searched, and even seized British vessels
in BehrinG Sea outside the three-mie limit
from the nearest land. Although no official
confirmation OF these rumors has reached her
Majesys Government. there appears to be no
reason to doubt their authenticity
Il am desired by the Marquis OF isbury TO
inquire whether the United States Govern
ment are In possession Of similar information,
and. further to ask that stringent instructions
may be sent by the United States Government
at the earliest moment to their officers with
the view to proven: the possibility OF such oc-
currences taking place.
In continuation OF my instructions, / have
the honor to remind you that her Majesty's Gov
eminent received very clear assurances last
year from Mr.. Bayard. at that time Secretary
OF State. that pending the discussion OF tho
general questions at ISSUE no further inter-
ference should take place with British vessels
IN Behring Sea.
ct" In conclusion, the Marquis OF Salisbury de-
sires me to say that Sir Julian Pauncefote her
Majesty's Minister. will be prepared ON his re-
turn to Washington IN the autumn to discuss
the whole question. and her Majesty's Govern
ment wish to point out to the United States
Government that a settlement cannot but be
hindered by any measures OF force which may
be resorted to by the United States. have,
&C.. III. G. EDwARDEs."
sEcRERARy BLAINE's REPLY.
To this letter Mr.. Blaine replied on the same
day and at the same place that the same rumors.
probably based on truth have reached the
Government OF the United States. but that up
to date there had been no official communities
tion received on the subject. He adds:
" 1t has been and is the earnest desire OF the
President OF the United States to have such
an adjustment as shall remove all possible
ground OF misunderstanding with her MaJes-
tvs Government concerning the existing
troubles In the Behring's Sea; and the Presi-
dent believes that the responsibility for delay
in the adjustment cannot be properly charged
to the Government Of the United States In
the opinion OF the President the points at issue
between the two Governments are capable OF
prompt adjustment on basis entirely honor
able to both"
On sept. IL. 1889. Mr.. Rdwardes asked whom
he might expect an answer to the request OF
his Government, made on Aug. "a. that In
structions be sent TO Alaska to prevent the
probability OF the seizure of British ships in
Behring Sea. lie says that her Majestys Gov
eminent are earnestly awaiting the reply OF
Lho OhlIou OLhlOo NiONeEuuleuL Ou tulS buDJ0CC.
as the recent reports OF seizures having taken
pl ace are causing much excitement. both In
England and in Canada.
Mr.. Blaine still at Bar Harbor. on Sept. II
replied that he had supposed that her Majes-
tvs Government was satisfied of the PreSl-
lents earnest desire 10 come to friendly
agreement touching BehrnG Sea- and that the
official instruction to Sir Julian Pauncefote.
The new Minister at Washington. to proceed
Immediately after his arrival In October to
uIl discussion OF the question, removed all
necessity for preliminary correspondence
ouchng its merits. referring to Mr.. Ed
Rardes's question. he says:
A categorical response would have been
md still Is impracticable-unjust TO this Gov.
,rnment and misleading to the Government Of
Ter Majesty. 1t was therefore the Judgment
II the President that the whole subject could
more wisely no remanded to the formal discus
ion so near at hand. which her Malesty's Gov
'rnment has proposed and to which the Gov.
'rnment OF the United states has cordially as
ented. 1t Is proper, however, to add that any
sent 10 Behring Sea at the time Of
our original request upon Aug. "A would have
allied TO reach those waters before the de-
'arture OF the vessels OF the United States."
HE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY To MR.. BLAINE.
Next Mr.. Edwardes left at theiDepartmeat Of
iarquis OF Salisbury. In which he recalls that
n 1886 and 1887. when the seizures made In
3ehring Sea were under discussion. the United
tates Minister had made overtures with 70.
pect to tho institution OF close time for the
cal fisheries. to prevent the extirpation Of the
cal in that part OF the world He says that,
'ithout admitting tho Justice OF the seizures,
is Government was very ready to agree that
he subject was one deserving OF the gravest
and that the Russian Government
'as disposed to Join In the proposed neRotia-
ons, but they were suspended for time In
onseduence Of objections raised by the Do
Union OF Canada and OF doubts thrown on
1e physical data on which any restrictive
'gisation must have been based. The Marquis
dds:
- Her Majesty's Government are fully sensi-
e Of the in portance OF this question and Of
10 great value which will attach 10 an inter-
ltional agreement in respect to IT, and her
aiestys representative will be furnished with
le requisite instructions in case the Secretary
Sta,a shpuII ha xVillinu tn anfar imam Oh.