Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-21
Seal Poaching in Behring Sea Must be
Stopped.

Stopped.
New YORK, December 2Oth.-A Wash.
ington special says that President Harrison
expects to accompany his transmission to
Congress OF further papers relating to the
Behflng sea controversy with a special
message, expressing his opinion respecting
the rights and claims of the United States
connected with the seal fishery, and the
comparative merits of the conduct and
position Of the two Governments since the
first seizure, In 1886. and the duty of Con-
gress in the present position OF the uaes-
ton.
The message will be framed with espe-
cial efsrence to the pending proposal of
the British Government for arbitration,
which proposal it is intended to reject.
The personal bitterness between Blaine
and Lord Salisbury that has arisen out of
the course of the negotiations is perceived
here to constitute material objection to
the continuance of any efforts toward O
settlement, especially after the diplomatic
relations between the two Governments
snail nave been further strained by the
energetic manner in which Blaine is pre-
paring to show up The hollowness and un-
fairness of the British arbitration project.
Il Is because OF the seeming hopelessness
OF the prospect for settlement by peaceful
means and OF the necessity of almost in
stahdy resolving upon new course of
conduct for the United States that the
President is determined to law the mater
fully before Congress and to apply for
legislative assistance in shaping and en-
forcing policy for the immediate future.
The pending British proposal is to refer
to he determination of friendly aud i'm.
partial arbitrator the question whether
seizures of British sealing vessels by the
United States were or were not lawful
seizures. To this form of the proposed
submission of the case to arbitration the
President strenuously objects, and he never
VIII agree to it unless Congress shall as
sumo the responsibility in some mode By
yielding adherence to it.
The President will give Congress to I'M.
dersiand that in the present state of the
mater he perceiyes neither authority nor
reason to abstain next season from literal
enforcement of the provisions of the Law
Tor the protection OF fur seals in Alaska and
the waters thereof.
He will also ask Congress for liberal
appropriation to meet the expense of fitting
vessels, in sufficient number and character
to capture and dispose of the numerous
marauding vessels expected to enter Behr-
ing Sea next year.
PAUYcEFoTE SURPRISED.
NEW 1ORk, december ZU.n-A dispatch
10 the Herald from Washington says: Sir
Julian Pauncefote expressed his surprise
that there should be any difficulty in
bringing the Bshiing Sea dispute to arbi-
fration.
Both Great Britain and the United
States, said he, while differing upon the
facts bearing upon the question, have q
common object, which seems susceptible OF
submission to arbitration. The form OF
submission referred to by the President in
bis annual message is simply an offer upon
the part of England to lay the dispute be-
fore an arbitrating power.
The Behring Sea dispute is far less
grave than the Alabama claims case, which
was submitted to arbitration without fric-
ton: What was done so readily then can
surely be repeated nsw,H both parties are
sincere, which L cannot doubt