The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-24


cruisers Of the United States to seize Brit
ish vessels fishing for seals
in BehIing Sea outside the limit Of terrific
rial waters. The grounds upon which these
violent measures are taken have not been
communicated to Her Majesty's government
and still remain unexplained. In view Of the
unexpected renewal Of the seizures OF which
Her Majesty's government had previously
complained, 1t is my duty to protest against
them, and state that in the opinion Of Her
lMaJesty's government they are wholly uDJus-
tilted by international law"
The American Position.
1t appears that Mr.. Blaine enquired what
authority there was for the above stated as.
surance Of Mr. Bayard, as, in note Of Octo
Der 14th last. Mr.. Edwardes says there was
an assurance communicated unoficlally to
His Lordship, by the United States min lister
in London, and also by Mr.. Bayard to Min
lister West in April, 1888. The correspond
ence between Secretary Blaine and the new
British minister began January % Of this
year with very long letter from the
Secretary to Sir Julian Pauncefote. The
Secretary says: I'm the opinion Of the Pres
ident, the Canadian vessels arrested and de-
tanned in Behring Sea were engaged In a
pursuit that was In itself contra bOnoS mores,
pursuit which of necessity involves seri-
GUS and permanent injury to the rights Of
States. To establish this ground it Is not
necessary to argue the question Of the ex-
tent and the nature OF the sovereignty of this
government over the waters Of Behring Sea-
IL IS not necessary to explain, and certainly
not TO define the powers and privileges ceded
by His Imperial Majesty, the Emeror Of Rus
sia, In the treaty by which the Alaskan ter
rity was transferred to the United States
The weighty considerations growing out of
the acquisition Of that territory with all the
rights on land and sea inseparably connected
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
ernment."
The Secretary then speaks of the value Of
the seal fisheries, which were controlled by
Russia without interference or question un-
til the cession of Alaska to the United States
in 1867 He says: "This undisturbed pos
session was continued to the United States
until 1886. The United States government
made successful efforts to improve and pre-
serve the fisheries, resulting in the payment
of more than S12. 100000 to English laborers
for the preparation Of seal skins and the ele-
walton to civilization of the natives Of the
Alaskan Islands. Precedents, customs and
by Russia or the United States, for nearly a
century. The two nations were the only
powers that owned foot Of land on the con-
tinents that bordered on, or the islands in
cluded within 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 Prideyloff Islands, the United States and
England, certain Canadian vessels In 1886
asserted their right to enter and by their
ruthless course destroy the fisheries, and
with them to destroy the resulting industries
which are so valuable. The government of the
United States at once proceeded to check this
movement. 1t was cause OF unfeigned
surprise to the United States that Her Maj
esty's government should Immediately in.
terfere to defend and encourage, surely TO
encourage by defending, the course Of the
Canadians in disturbing an industry care
fully developed for more than 80 years under
the flags Of Russia and the United States
without interference with the public rights
or private industries of any people. Whence
do in 1886 that which they refrained from
doing for more than 90 years? Upon what
grounds did Her Majesty's government de-
fend In the year 1886 course Of conduct In
Behring Sea which she carefully avoided
ever since the discovery Of that sea? So
great has been the injury to the fisheries by
Canadian vessels that whereas the COVE m
ment allowed 100000 to be taken annually
for series of years, it Is now compelled
to reduce the number to 10000. IL four
years of this violation of natural law and a
neighbor's rights has reduced the annual
slaughter of seal by 40 per cent, and 1t is
easy to see how sholt a period will be re-
qu4red to work tie ta.al- destruction OF the
fisheries.
The British Side of the Case.
"The ground upon which!He Majesty's
government justifes, or at least defends, the
course of Canadian vessels, rests upon the
fact that they are committing their acts of
destruction on the high seas, viz, more than
ii tha oh II
Is doubtful whether Her Majesty's govern
ment would abide by this rule If an attempt
was made to interfere with the pearl fishe-
ries of Ceylon, which extend more than 20
miles from the shore line, and have beer en-
joyed by England without molestation ever
that modes of fishing on the Grand Banks,
altogether practicable but highly destruc-
tive, would be justified or even permitted by
Great Britain on tle plea that the vicious
acts were committed more than three miles
from the shore. The President does not con-
ceive 1t possible that Her Majesty's govern
ment could, in fact, be less Indifferent to
these evil results than is the government OF
the United States, but hopes that Her Maj
esty's government will, after this frank ex.
the position of the government of the United
States touching this serious ques-
tion. This government has been
ready to concede much in order to adjust all
differences of view and has. in the judgment
Of the President already proposed solu-
tion. not only equitable but generous. Thus
far Her Majesty's government has declined
to accept the proposal Of the United States.
The President now awaits with deep inter-
est, not uDmixed with solicitude. any propo-
sition for a reasonable adjustment which
Her MaJesty's government may submit. The
Iorcible resistance to which this government
is constrained in Behring Sea Is, In the Pres.
idents Judgment, demanded, not only by the
necessity of defending traditional long es
tablished rights Of the United States. bul
also the rights Of good government and good
morals the world over. In this contention
the government of the United States has ne
occasion and no desire to withdraw or m0di
fly the positions which it has at the time
maintained against the claims OF the imperia
government of Russia. The United State:
will not withhold from any nation the privi
leges it demanded for itself when Alaska
was q part Of the Russian empire. Nor |,
the government of the United States dis
posed to exercise in those possessions any
concede to the Imperial government OF Rus
sia when its sovereignty extended ovel
them"
Willing to Adopt the Suggestion.
Sir Julian PauncefOte, FEBRUARY 10th, ad
dressed Mr.. Blaine a letter informing hin
that his government was willing to adopt thu
suggestion made in the course of their inter
views that the tripartite negotiation sus
pended in London in 1855 be resumed IL
Washington, April 30th, Sir Julian Paunce
fOte wrote Mr.. Blaine, in answer to his in
vitation for a counter proposal for a settle
ment, that, as the sole object of the negoti
ations was the preservation of the fur seal
species, regardless of the advantage to any
particular nation or private interest il
would be strange If there should be
failure to devise means Of solving the diff
culties which had arisen. In view Of the
divergent views held, no solution would sat
isfy public opinion in Canada or Great Brit
ain without full inquiry by mixed commits
sion of experts. Meanwhile he was prepared
to recommend to his government certain pre-
viSional and precautionary measures to re-
move apprehension of depletion of the fur
seal species pending the report OF the COM
mission. The regulations proposed were:
1. Pelagie sealing should be prohibited in Behr-
ing Sea Sea of OchotSk and ad Joining waters, dur
Ing Nav June, October. November and Decem-
ber which may be termed the migration periods
of the fur seal.
approaching the breeding Islands wlthia radius
of ten miles.
These regulations he thinks will put stop
to the practices complained OF as tending to
exterminate the seals. The British minister
also encloses the draft of convention pro-
yiding for the appointment of mixed COM
mission who are to report on certain sreci-
fed questions within two years. Matters
not adjusted by the commission may be left
to arbitration.