The Iola register., 1890-08-01
THE SEALING DISPUTE.
voluminous Correspondence Laid
Before the House.
Ehe Question Assumes a Serious Aspect
The Objections of Canada Retard Me-
gotiatIons Blaine Uses
Plain Language.


WASHINGTON, July aL-The correspond
ence between the State Department and the
British Government touching the Behring
sea negotiations was laid before the House
yesterday afternoon. 1t Is extremely vol
luminous, covering many hundreds of pages
OF typewritteu manuscript 1t is accompa-
MED by a note from the Secretary OF State
which states that the negotiations are still
I'm progress
The correspondence consists of thirty let
ters and kilograms. 1t begins with letter
from Mr.. Edwards. Secretary of the British
legation. 10 Mr. Blaine at bar Harbor. Au-
gust "a, 1899, complaining that the United
States cruisers have seized British vessels
in Behring sea outside the three mile limit
and requesting by direction of Marquis
Salisbury that stringent orders be issued to
prevent such a course
Mr.. Blaine replied on August "a, 1889, that
the United States Government desires to
have such an adjustment of the question
which will remove misunderstanding but
that the President believes that the respon-
sIbility for del Y in the adjustment can not
be properly charged tO the United States
Government. He requests that Mr.. Ed
wards express the satisfaction of the
United States Government that Sir John
Pauncefote will be reauy on his return 10
discuss the VIII lie question.
letter from the Marquis of Salisbury to
that the British Government realizes the
importance of an international agreement
between the United States, Great Britain
and Russia on the subject, and says Paunce-
fute Will be furnis led the requisite instruc-
tions in case the Seer tary of State desires
to enter upon the discussion. In another
disp Itch of the same date he calls attention
to the seizure of the British sealers by
United States vessels outside of the three
mi limit. and says that Secretary Bayard
stat q unoffic ally that no further seizures of
this character would b. carried on pending
the discussion and expresses regret that this
understanding has not been carried out. He
closes ly a protest of the Government and
'xpTessos the opinion of the Government
that the sc zu es were wholly uniustifiable.
Mr.. Edwards says of the assurance re-
ferred to above by Lord Salisbury that it
was IN assurance communicated un nofficially
to his Lordship 10y the United States Minis
ter in London an 4 also by Mr.. Bayard to cir
Lionel West in the month of Anril, 1853.
In a long lftter, January /. 1899, Mr.. Blaine
goes into n discussion of The general subject,
stating that the United States Government
on the east. the Aleuts of Alaska and the
Russian Government on the west of Behr-
ing sea have until 1861 exercised the un-
questioned right to take seals in the Behr-
ing sea He says it was n case of surprise
TO the United States that the British Govern
dian vessels in attempting to take seals in
BeEring sea and saws: whence did the
ships Of Canada derive the right to do in
1885 what they had refrained from do
ing for nearly ninety yearsa Up
wnat ground did her haiesty's Gov
eminent defend in 1886 a course
in Behring sea which she had care
fully avoided ever since thu discovery of
that sea? BY what reasoning did her Mai
esiy's Government conclude that an act may
be committed with impunity against the
rights Of the United States which had never
been attempted against the same rights
when he by the Russian Government"
After long statement of the damage to
fur seals which has followed the incursions
of the British sealing vessels in the sea, he
says: "The President does not conceive that
her Maiasty's Coz eTnment could in fact he
less indifferent to those results than is the
Government OF the United states. But he
hopes that her Msiesty's Government will,
after this frank expression of views,
readily comprehend the position of the
United State touching this serious question
This Government has been re sdy to concede
much in order to adjust all differences of
views and in the Judgment of tn President
had already pICpC scd a SO ution not only
equitable but generous. Thus far her
Majesty's Government has declined to ac-
cepI the proposal OF the United states. The
not unmixed with solcitude, any PROPOSE
tIon for reasonable adjustment which her
Majesty's Goyernm mt nav submit.
On teb uary L., 1890. Sir Julian Pauncefote
says in a letter to rr. Blaine that the British
Government is now ready to resume the tri-
partite neFot iations respecting the estab-
Iishment of a close time for the seal fish
cries, which was commenced In lssS but sus-
pended for various causes, and suggests
that the negotiations be resumed in Wash
in gton.
The next communication is from Sir Julian
Pauncpfote to Mr. blaine, md is marked
Received April 81 ls95' Indicating that
meantime the negotiations had been in
progress. It begins by saying: "At the last
sitting of the conference on the Behriog's
sea fisheries is expressed doubt whether any
Arrangement could be arrived at which
would be satisfnctoSSr. q Ca1adl," He thus
y. ohosed that mixed 6Sumlssion be
agreed upon to consider the whole question
and sealing be suspended in Rehrlng sea
during certain periods pending the work of
that commission.
In letter dated May q 1880, Salisbury re-
plies to the arguments of Blaine in regard
to the claim of exclusive rights to Behring
sea He denies this claim and holds that
Great Britain has always maintained when
questions arose the right to take seal in
Behring sea, and, quot ng a statement by
MT Blaine that the Pres dent believes all
friendly nations will concede to the United
states the same rights which were formerly
conceded to Rus, ia in this matter, says:
"Her MaSesty's Government will have no
difficulty in making such n concession. The
rights they have demanded have been those
OF free navigation and fishing in waters
which prev :ous to their owa acquisition of
Alaska, the United States declared to be free
and omen TO all foreign vessels I"
IN NJ NM c. T,-n,..
letter TO Mr.. Blaine calls attention to news
paper reports that the United States cruis-
rrs have been instructed TO prevent foreign
vessels entering upon seal fisheries ia non-
territorial waters. a2d says: 81 am in
siru ted by the Marquis of Salisbury to
state to you that formal priest by her
NRiesty's Government against any such in
terference with BTui h ress Is will be for
warded to you withou. delay"
To this Mr.. Blaine, on May % replies IN a
icng cCmmUnicst On, in whiS h he saws: ''In
tuIn am in structed by the President to pro-
test sga nst the cour at the British Gov
eminent IN authorizing, encouraging snd
protect ng vessels which are not OILY inter-
fcring with American rights in the Behring
sea, but doing vi lcnce the rights Of the
civilized word" besIys taat the President
IS surprised at the protest of the
British since Lord cal .sbury, on No
scmber IL, 1857, in an Official
interview with the United States Minister,
Phelps, cordially agreed that q code for the
preservation of the seals should be adopted
and suggested that Minister Phelps should
present a system of regulations, which was
done, and on February % Mr.. Phelps noti-
ned Secretary Bayard that Lord Salisbury
sssents to toe proposition to establish a
close time for fur seals between April Is and
November and between leo to I70 degrees
Of longitude, and will cause an act to be
introduced in Parliament to give effect to
this arrangements He adds that on the fol-
lowing April . the American charge at
London ves instructed that this plan would