The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-08
Salisbury's Proposed Questions Re-
latlng to Bering Sea Modified
By Blaine.
Uncle Sam Will Pay For Ships IF
Albion Will Pay For
Seals.
Contention of This Government Again
outlined by Saiisbury--AuthorityB Be-
yOnd tho Three Mile Limit.

| WASHINGTON, May 7.-Another note from
Secretary Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote,
under date of April IA, il made public. 1t
says, in part: The notifications which
Lord Salisbury suggests in questions for
arbitration do not wholly meet the views of
the president, but this president changes
the text of the third and fifth questions in
such manner, it is hoped, as will result in
an agreement between the two govern
ments. While Lord Salisbury suggests a
different mode of procedure from that en-
bodied IN the sixth question, the president
does not understand him to actually object
to the question, and therefore assumes that
1t is agreed that the six questions now pro
posed by the president are: FIRST What ex-
elusive jurisdiction in Bering sea and what
exclusive rights in seal fisheries therein did
Russia assert and exercise up to the time
| OF the cession of Alaska to the
United States; second, how far were
those claims conceded by Great Britain;
third. was Bering sea included in the phrase
Pacific ocean, used in the treaty of 1926
between Great Britain lid Russia, and
what rights, if any, in Boring sea were held
and exclusively exercised by Russia after
said treaty; fourth, did not all the rights of
Russia pass unimpaired to the United
States under the treaty Of 1867; fifth, has
the United States any right and, if so what
right of protection of property in fur seals
frequenting islands of the United States in
Berlng sea, when such seals are found out
size of the ordinary three mile limit; sixth,
II she determination of the foregoing ques-
tlons shall leave the subject in such posi-
tlon that the concurrence of Great Britain
is necessary in prescribing regulations for
the killing of fur seal in any part of the
waters of Bering sea, then it shall be furth-
er determined. 1) how far. if at all, out
side the ordinary territorial limits it ia
necessary that the United States should ex-'
erciso exclusive jurisdiction in or
der to protect seal for the time
living upon islands of the United
States and feeding therefrom (2)
whether closed season, during which the
killing of seals IN the waters of Bering sea
outside of ordinary territorial limits shall
be prohibited, is necessary to save the seal
fishing industry. 30 valuable and impor
tant to mankind, from dete#oration or aa-
struction, and If SO (3) what months or
parts of months should be included in
such season, and over what waters it should
extend.
The president does not object to an addi-
tional question respecting alleged damage
to English ships, if the condition can be
added that if the United States shall pre-
vail in the arbitration, all seals taken by
Canadian vessels during the period shall be
paid for at the ordinary price for which
skins are sold. In Lord Salisbury's dis
patch of February 81 he makes declaration
that it lis now quite clear that the advs-
ers of the president do not claim Bering
sea as mare clausum, and indeed re-
pudiate that contention in express terms,''
Mr.. Blaine says Lord Salisbury's expression
is in form to imply that the United States
hitherto had been resting its contention
upon the fact that Bering sea was mare
cluusum. If that was the intention it
would have been well for his lordship to
specify wherein the United States ever made
the assertion. In Lord salisbuly's judg-
ment the contention of the United States
now rests wholly upon the nkase of 1861 bv
the emperor of Russia. The United States
has at no time rested its argument solely on
the ground mentioned, and this government
regrets that Lord Salisbury should have so
misapprehended the American position as
to limit its basis of right i'll Bering sea to
the ukase of 1861. The United States has.
recurring to any of it's Inherited
and superior rights in Alaska, that
this government has Ms full authority for
going beyond the three mile line in case of
proved necessity as Great Britain possesses.
Two or three instances of the power which
Great Btitain exercises beyond tho three
mile line have already been quoted but have
failed thus far to secure comment or ex-
planation from Lord Salisbury. Another
case can be cited perhaps still more to the
point. Ia 1889, only two years ago, the
British parliament enacted a law, the effect
of which is fully shown by a map enclosed
herewith. Far outside the three-mie line the
parliament of Great Britain has attempted
to control Il body of water situated beyond
the northeastern section of Scotland =. 700
square miles iii extent and to direct that
certain methods of fishing shall not be used
within that body of wnter under prescribed
penalty. The inhibition is not alone against
British subjects, but against "any person.
Ii Grent britain may thus control an area
of 200 square miles of ocean ON tho coast
of Scotland, why may not the United States
prescribe space around the PrIbyloif Is
lands in which similar prohibitions may be
enforced?
In the opinion of the president Lord Sal
isbury is wholly and strangely i'll error in
making the following statements: Nor do
the advisors OF the president rely for justi-
tication of the seizure of British ships III
en- son. upon the contention that the in
terests oil the seal fisheries give the United
States government any right for that pur
pose which, according to international law
1t would not otherwise possess" The
government of United States has steadily
held just the reverse of the position Lord
Salisbury lmputes to 1t. 1t holds that own
ersmp of the islands uion which seals
breed. that the habit of seals in regularly
resoitlug thither and rearing their young
thereon, that their going out from the
islands i'll search oi food and regularly re-
tuning thereto, and all facts and Incidents
of thalr relation to the islands. give to tho
United States property interest therein; !
that this property interest was claimed and
exercised by RUSSIA, tat England recog |
nixed this property interest so far as recog- |
terterenco with il during the whole period !
of kussia's ownership, and during The first |
years of the sovereignty of tho
United States. 1t is vet to be determined |
whether the lawless intrusion of Canadian !
vessels has changed the law and equity OF |
he case heretofore prevailing.
To Snperintsna Irrigation in Montnau.
WASHINGTON, May Waiter II. Graves,
pf Denver, Cob, has been appointed super
lnteudcnt of irrigation on the Grow roser-
Sation III Montana at Il salary Of 81, 700 per |
Bank Reports called For.
WASHINGTON, May r. he comptroller of |
he currency has ssned n call for reports of |
The condition of national banks at tho |
close OF business, Monday. May 4.