Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-24
THE BEHRING SEA DISPUTE.
Correspondence on the Subject Sent to
Congress by the state Department.

Congress by the state Department.
NJ. BLAME uPHoLps AMERICAN RIeHTs-A RE-
MoSsTRAxCE AGAINST LORD SALISBURY
CHANGE OF PosITIOS-Eow THE NEGOTIATIONS
WE'RE sToPPED-THE FINAL LETTER.
The Behring sea correspondence the receipt
OF which by the House late yesterday afternoon
was announced in The STAR. includes letters on
both sides of the question. beginning with let
ter from Mr.. Edvardes first secretary of legation
and charge d'aifaires after Minister Vests
recall, dated August q. 1882 and closing with
one from Secretary Blaine TO Sir Julian Padnce-
fote, the British minister, dated July 10, 1890
Mr.. Edwardes writes to call the attention OF
Secretary Blaine to reports of seizures of Can
adam scaling vessels in Behring sea and to ask
that stringent instructions be given to the
United States officers to prevent further seiz-
nres. He states that Secretary Bayard had
assured her majesty's government that no
more seizures would be made pending negoti-
atiOns.
In conclusion" he says, ''the MARQUIS of
salisbury desires me to say that Sir Julian
PauncetOte, her majesty's minister, will be pre-
pared on his return TO Washington in the
autumn to discuss the whole question. and her
majesty government wish To point out TO the
United States government that a settlement
cannot but be hindercd by any measures of
force which may be resOrted to by the United
States"
To this 1Ir. Blaine replied: 1t has been and
is the earnest desire of the President OF the
United States to have such an adjust
ment as shall remove all possible ground of
Misunderstanding with her majestys govern
meut concerning the existing troubles III the
BehrIng sea. and the President believes that
the responsibility for delay IN the adjustment
cannot lie properly charged TO the government
OF the United states. la the opinion
OF the President the points at issue between
the two governments are capable of prompt adj
iustEient on q basis entirely honorable to both. ."
IL September OF last year Mr.. Edwardes
wrote TO lir. Blaine to know when he could
expect an answer 20 the request of his govern
ment that instructions be given to prevent the
seizure Of Canadian sealers.
Mr.. Blaine replied refusing to give any cate
gOrICal response.
Mr. Edwa-dos in another letter complains of
the seizure of tie Triumph by tine Rush as
Illegal. and again calls attention to Mr. Bayard's
unofficial assurance that no more seizures
should be made pending negotiations.
AR. BLAISEs PRESENTATION OF THE CASE.
The correspondence between Secretary Blaine
md Sir Julian Pauncefote began with long
letter from Mr.. Blaine, under date of January
y of this wear.
He says: In the opinion of the President the
Canadian vessels arrested and detained in the
Behrlng sea were engaged IN a pursuit that was
IN Itself contra bOnOs mOres, pursuit which of
necessity involves II serious and permanent in
jury to the rights Of the government and peo-
pie of the United States. To establish this
ground II Is not necessary to argue the ques-
uOn of the extent and nature of the sover-
eighty Of this government over the waters of
the Behr!ng sea; II Is not necessary to explain
certainly not to define. tho powers and priyi-
leSeS cedCd by his imperial majesty the En-
pCror of Russia III the treaty by which the
Alaskan territory was transferred 10 the United
States. The welghty considerations growing
out OF the acquisition of that territory with all
the rights on land and sea inseparabIy con-
nected 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 gov
erlment"
The Secretary then speaks Of the value of
the seal fisheries, which were controlled by
Russia without interference or question until
the Cessation Of Alaska to the United States in
ls67. This undisturbed possession continued
to the United States until 1856. passing whaling
vessels aDstalnIng from seal capture. He saws
that this uniform avoidance of all attempts 10
take fur seals III those waters had been a con-
slant recognition of the right held and exer-
elsed, first by Russia and subsequently by this
government. II had also been the recognition
of fact now held beyond denial or doubt that
the taking Of seals in the open sea rapidly leads
to their extinction.
The Secretary. continuing, SAYS that this is
proved not only by expert testimony but bv the
total destruction of all seal fisheries EXCEPT the
one IN the behring sea, which the government
OF the United States Is now striving to pre-
serve, not altogether for the use OF the Ameri-
can people. but for the use OF the world at
large. He recltes the successful efforts Of the
United states government to improve and pre-
serve the fisheries, resulting in the payment of
more than SI2.O0O,O00 10 English labOrers for
the preparation Of the seal skins. and the ele-
vailOn 10 civilization of the natives of the
Alaskan Islands. He says:
This. IN brief, was the condition of the
Alaska tur-seal fisheries down to the wear 1885,
The precedents, customs and rights had been
established and enjoyed either by Russia OF
the United States, for nearly century. The
two nations were the only powers that owned a
loot OF land on the continents that bOrdered or
the islands included within. the Behring waters
where the seals resort to breed Into this
peaceful and secluded field of labor, whose
benefits were so equitably shared by the native
Aleuts of the PribylOff Islands. by the United
States and by England certain Canadian YES
seis IN loS6 asserted their right to enter. and.
by their ruthless course. to destroy the fisher
les. and with them 20 destroy also the resulting
industries. which are SO valuable The govern
ment OF the United States at once proceeded to
check this movement which. unchecked, was
sure 10 do great and Irreparable harm"
ENCOURAGING A PERSICIOUs COURSE
II was a cause of unfeiSned surprise to the
United States that her majestys government
should Immediately interfere to defend and en-
courage tsurely to encourage by defending)
the course of the Canadians III disturbing an in
dustry which had been carefully developed for
more than ninety years under the flags of Rus
Ella and the United States, developed in such
manner as not to interfere with the public
rights or the private industries of any people
or any other person.
whence did the ships of Canada derive the
right 10 10 IN 15s6 that which they had re-
strained from doing for more than ninety
years. Upon what grounds did her maiesty's
government defend IN the year 1856 a course OF
conduct IN the Behrlng which she had care
iui4y avoided ever since the discovery of that
sea! by what reasoning did her maiesty's gov
eminent conclude that an act may be commit
tcd with IMMUNITY against the rights of the
united states which has never been ATTEMPTED
against the same rights VIXEN held by the Rus-
sian empire?
80 great has been the injury to the fisheries
from The irregular and destructive slaughter
OF seals IN the open waters of the Behring sea
oy Canadian vessels that whereas the govern
neAt had allowed 100000 to be taken annually
lOr series OF years, il Is now compelled
10 reduce the number 10 $1,000. If four Years
OF this violation OF natural law and neiyhbors'
rights have reduced the annual slaughter of
seals by 10 per cent. Il Is easy 10 see how short
period Will be required TO work the total de-
structIOa OF the fisheries
The ground upon which her majesty govern
mcEt Juz;Ities. at least defends. the course
Oi the Canadian vessels rests upon the fact
That tA0y are committing their acts OF destruc-
ton OIL :Ae high seas. viz. more than three
marine leagues from the shore line. IL is
u N.4r