Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-07-31
THE SEALING DISPUTE.
voluminous Correspondence Laid
Before the House.
The Question Assumes Serious Aspect
The Objections of Canada Retard Me-
gotiatlons Secretary Blaine Uses
Plain Language.

WASHINGTON July A--The correspond
enoe between the State Department and h,
British Government touching the Behrnl
sea negotiations was laid before the Hous,
yesterday afternoon. II Is extremely vol
luminous, covering many hundr, ds OF pages
of typewritten manuscripts It Is aoeompa
MED by note from the Secretary Of stats
which states that the negotiations are still
| N progress
The correspondence consists OF thirty let.
ters and kilograms. II begins with a letter
from Mr.. Edwards, Secretary of the British
legation. 10 Mr. Blaine at liar Harbor. Au.
gust ~, 1852. 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 Ia
4 prevent such a course
Mr.. Blaine replied on August "a, 1889, that
the United States Government desires "a
/ have such an adjustment OF the question
! which VIII remove misunderstanding but
that the President believes that tho respon.
sibility for del y In the adjustment can not
i 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
| Pauncefnte will be ready on his return 10
/ discuss the whe 10 question.
! letter from the Marquis OF Salisbury to
Mr.. Edwards, dated October 2. 1853, states
that the British Government realizes the
Importance OF an international agreement
between the United States, Great Britain
and Russia on the subject and says Paunco.
fote viii be furnished the requisite instruo-
tlons In case the Secretary of State desires
to enter upon the discussion. In another
dispatch OF the same date he calls attention
to the seizure OF the British sealers by
United States vessels outside Of the three
mile limit, and says that Secretary Bayard
stated unoficially that no further seizures Of
this character would be carried on pending
the discussion and expresses regret that this
understanding has not been carried out He
closes by a protest of the Government and
expresses the opinion OF the G. vernment
that the seizu es were wholly uniustiiable
Mr.. Edwards says OF the assurance ro
ferred TO above by Lord Salisbury that II
was an assurance communicated un officially
to his Lordshn by the United States Minis
ter in London and also by Mr. Bayard 70 sir
Lionel West in the month of April, 1889
In a long letter. January l. 1890, Mr.. Blaine
goes into a 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 10 take seals in the Behr-
ing sea ne says It was Il case of surprise
to the United states that the British Govern
ment should interfere to defend the Cana
dian vessels In attempting 10 take seals In
Behring sea, and saws. "Whenee did the
ships of Canada derive the right 70 do "a
1885 what they had refrained from do
ing for nearly ninety years2 Up
wnat ground did her Maiesty's GOV.
ernment defend in 1886 course
in Behring sea which she had care
fully avoided ever since tn, discovery q
that sea2 BY what reasoning did her Mai
esty's Government conclude that an act may
be committed with IMMUNITY against the
rights Of the United States which had never
been attempted against the same rights
when he'd by the Russian Government"
After long statement Of the damage TO
fur seals which has foltn wed the incufsIans
OF the British sealing vessels In the sea- he
says: "The President does not conceive that
her Maicsty's Government could in fact be
less Indifferent to hose results than Is the
Government Of the United states But he
hopes that her Ma1esty'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 ready TO coneede
much In order to adjust all differences Of
views and in the judgment OF tn President
had already proposed q so.ution not only
equitable but generous. Thus far her
Maiesty's Government has declined 10 ac
cept the proposal OF the United states The
President now awaits with deep interest.
not unmixed with soloitude, any PROPOSE
tion for reasonable adjustment which her
Maiesty's Government may submit
on February 10, 1880, Sir Julian Pauncefote
says In a letter TO AIR. Blaine that the British
Government Is now ready TO resume the tri-
partite negotiations respecting the estab
llshment Of "A close time for the seal fish
cries. which was commenced In 1855 but sus
pended for various causes. and suggests
that the negotiations be resumed in Wash
ington.
The next accommodation is from Sir Julian
Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine, and is marked !
" Received April 80, 1890" indicating that |
meantime the negotiations had been in |
progress. II begins by saying: at the last |
sitting OF the conference on the Behring's /
sea fisheries is expressed doubt whether any /
arrangement could be arrived at which |
would be satisfactory to Canada" He thus
that mixed commission be /
agreed upon 20 consider the whole question /
and sealing bo suspended in Behrlng sea /
during certain periods pending the work OF \
that commission
In a letter dated May p 1880, Salisbury re.
plies to the arguments OF Blaine In regard /
TO the claim OF exclusive rights to Bchring
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, quoting statement by
Mr.. Blaine that the President believes all
friendly nations will concede to the United
States the same rights which were formerly
to Russia In this matter, says
Her Maiesty's Government viii have no
iificulty In making such a concession The
lights they have demanded have been those
II free navigation and fishing In waters
which previous TO their own acquisition Of
Alaska, the United States declared to be free
md omen to all foreign vessels"
on May o. ls9o, Sir Julian Pauncefote IN a
ctter to Mr.. Blaine calls attention to news
paper reports that the United states cruls.
RS have been instructed 10 prevent foreign
ressels entering upon seal fisheries In non
erritorial waters, and says: Il am in.
itrut ted by the Marquis Of Salisbury to
tate TO you that a formal protest by her
daiesty's Government against any such in
difference with Briii-h vcss is will be for
yardcd to you without delay
To this Mr.. Blaine, on MAY 29 replies In a
ong communicat on, In which he saws. "In
urn am instructed by the President to pro-
est against the cour-e OF the British GOV
rnmeut In authorizing. encouraging and
protecting vessels which are not ohly inter
eFing with American rights in the Behring
ea. but doing vi lencc the rights of the
ivilized world" lie says that the President
s surprised at the protest OF the
british since Lord Salisbury. on No
fmntf H. 1871. m an official ] ,
interview with the United States Minister.
helps, cordially agreed that a code for the
reservation Of the seals should be adopted
nd suggested that Minister Phelps should ,
lresent a system of regulations, which was ,
one, and on February q Mr. Phelps mott.
ed Secretary bayard that Lord Salisbury
ssents 20 tue proposition to establish a (
lose time for fur seals between April IS and
Ovembcr l. and between l60 to f70 degrees q
{ longitude. and viii cause an act to be
Introduced IN Parliament TO give effect to
bis arrangement. He adds that on the fol. I
1Wing April q the American charge az Z
ondon was instructed that this plan would =
G perfected by an order in council five days
ter however. on April p, the charge was
lfOrmed that no action would be taken
ntil Canada ls heard from, and for several I
eeks no further Information cou'd be had
q the subject He vas finally told that the
anadian Government objected TO any such 1
sstriclions and until her consent could be d
ad the British Governments was not willing q
go into the convention.
Mr.. blaine adds. "Can the Government Of y
be United States be expected to accept rs b
nal decision Of the Government OF Great 3
rltain that an agreement can not be full A
He'd because Canada objects? The change
policy would be by her Majesty's Govern
cnt without notice and against the wish Of
lie Government as. in the Presidents be-
e, because Of an the differences that have
slowed I am further Instructed by the n
resilient 20 say that while the proposals Of J