The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-06
THE GREAT FUR SEAL
Recent Correspondence on the
Bering Sea Question.
ENGLAND DoDoEs THE ISSUE.
The Point is, what Jurisdiction Had
Russia. and Did Not America Buy All
Russia's Rights ON Land and Sea-

evening issued the following communica-
ton to the press: The statements cabled
respecting the correspondence on the
Boring sea question between the British
and American governments are I'M
founded. A dispatch was received Decem-
Der 80 from Blaine. He made proposals
respecting the questions to be submitted
for arbitration. With this exception, no
communication whatever has been re-
ceived from the United States on the sub
ject for the past three weeks, and no COM
munication has been made to the Ameri-
can government in the same period.
The foreign Office is most conservative
department, and the course it adopted In
regard to the communication is startling
innovation upon its usual methods OF pro-
cedure, and strengthens the general belief
that the crisis is serious. 1t is Chained
here that the preparation OF sealskins is en-
tirely British industry, 1900 persons be-
ing engaged in this work in London alone.
Since the publication of the foreign Offices
communications the United States lega-
ton and admiralty Office have been be-
sieped by persons seeking to obtain infor-
nation, but the inquiries have proved
fruitiess.
WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. 5.--The presi-
dent today transmitted to congress the
correspondence up to date in the Boring
sea matter 1t is made up of two very long
letters and number of Enclosures, conf
prising notes, treaties and extracts from
correspondence. One of these letters is
from Lord Salisbury TO Sir Julian Paunce-
fote, British minister, August ?, and the
other from Secretary Blaine 10 the British
minister, December II.
Lord Salisbury's letter is confined to dis
cussion of the Russian ukase and treaty of
1925. He argues at length that Blaine has
misinterprcted Adams position, and says:
do not suppose it is necessary that should
argue at length upon so elementary n point as
that the claim 10 prohibit vessels of other ma
lions from approaching within distance OF 100
miles from the coast is contrary to Ioodcrn inter-
national usaces. Adams clearly thought in 1873
that the matter was beyond doubt or discussion.
Not only did her majestys government Tor
mally protest against the ukase, but the Russian
government gave verbal assurance that the
claim In question would not be exercised.
In the subsequent negotiations great import
snce was attached to obtaining more formal
disavowal of the claim, in the manner least
hurtfnl to Russian susceptibilities, but so as to
efectualy preclude its revival. and this security
the British government undoubtedly considered
both they and the United States had obtained by
the conventions of 1924 and 1925.
In conclusion Lord Salisbury cites the
instructions given the British plenipoten-
tiary who negotiated the treaty of 1925,
and says:
These extracts show conclusiyely: First
that England refused 10 admit any part of the
Russian claim asserted by the ukase of 1921,
maritime Jurisdiction and exclusive right of
passing throughout the whole extent of Boring
from Boring strait TO the Fifty-irst parallel;
>f
on both sides as a renunciation on the part of
Russia of that claim in its entirety, and third,
that though Bering strait was known and spe-
cihcally provided for, Bering sea was
not known by that name, but was
regarded as part of the Pacific
with which Mr.. Blaine concluded his dispatch
Is that her majesty's government has always
claimed freedom OF navigation and fishing in
the waters of Bering sea, outside of
the usual limit of q marine league
from the coast; that it is impossible
TO admit that the public right TO fish, catch
seals or pursue any other lawful occupation on
the high seas can be held to be abandoned by a
nation from the mere fact that for a certain
number of years Ii has not suited the subjects
of that nation TO exercise IL. II must be remem-
bered that British Columbia has come into ex-
isience as a colony at a comparatively recent
date, and the first considerable influx of popu-
covery of gold, and did not tend to the imme-
diate development of the shipping interest
have 70 request that you will communicate a
copy Of this dispatch and of its Enclosure to Mr.
Blaine.
You win state that her maiestys government
mas no desire whatever 70 refuse to the United
states any jurisdiction in Bering sea which was
conceded by Great Britain to Russia and which
properly aecrues to the present possessors Of
Alaska In Virtue of treaties and the law of
nations, and 4 the United States government,
alter an examination of the evidence and arg,-
ments produced as TO the legality of recent cap
lures III that sea, Is ready to agree that the ones
tion with the isstes that iepend upop il. should
be referred to impartial arbitration you viii In
that case be authorized 10 consider in concert
with Dir. Blaine, the ls.erIUH VI procedure 10 he
followed,
Secretary Blaine's letter begins with in
sistance upon the correctness of the posi-
tion assumed by the United States. He
believes the controversy turns upon one
point, whether the phrase Pacific ocean. /"
used IN the treaties of 1894 and 1925, in
Guided Bering sea, as contended by
Great Britain. If the United States can
prove 10 the contrary the case is complete
and undeniable. Therefore Blaine enters
INTO an exhaustive argument, based on
Bancroits history and maps, to show
mat Adams and his contemporaries
had distinct understanding that the
phrase Pacific ocean" excluded the waters
OF Bering sea, then known to all the world
as the Sea of kamschatka. He points to
the large wealth of the Russian American
Company, which, he says, would be neces-
sariiy thrown away by the Russian nohil-
lty IN phrase which merged Bering sea
Ill the Pacinc ocean. He cites the long
years OF abstinence from the seal waters
by the adventurous people OF the United
States and Great Britain as a presumntion
OF their lack of right to enter. As
stronger evidence of his correctness
Blaine cites the protocols of the treaty of
1ssa, to show that Russia's REIMBURSEMENT
OF jurisdiction applied TO the territory be-
tween the 50th and Goth degrees. also an
explanatory note from Russia TO Adams in
te-4 positively excepting the Aleutian
Islands and the country north Of 30 degrees
- minutes from the concession to the
United States of the right 10 fish and trade.
VI TINS note Secretary Blaine SAYS:
The explanatory note of the Russian govern.
ment disproves and denies in detail three sSser.
lions o. LcrG Salisbury. l think they are ccrn
rleteiy Glsproyed by the facts recite,i IL, this
dispatch. bat the explanatory note is a sneei6e
contradiction % each one Of them.
Further, the secretary says
The United States, having the most extended
sea coast Of all nations OF the world. nav "a
presumed 10 have paid serious attention ~ the
laws Sad nsagcs which define and limit mari.
tifne Jurisdiction While Lord ssilshury's IA.
naonitions are received in good part by this
government, We feel justified in asking his
Nsdsasa u the government Of Great Britain has
uniformly illustrated fheSn ,,y,.cs,ts ~ -