Telegram-herald., 1891-01-07
THE BEHRING SEA.
More About the Dispute Via
Great Britain.
cerrsspendencs Between Secretary
Blaine and Lord Saiisbury--heither
Disposed to Yield His Point



sentztives further correspondence On
the subject of the Behring sea con-
troversy between the United States
and Great Britain. The Presidents
message is altogether formal and
merely states that il is in response
to the resolution of the House Of Repre-
sentatives that he transmits the cor
respcndence called for. The CORE
spondence consists of letter from Lord
Salisbury to Sir Julian Panneefote,
dated August 2, 1890, and one from Sec
rotary Blaine to the same Minister of
date December II last. Both have
copious appendices made UP of past
correspondence on the subject. Lord
Salisbury's letter Is confined 10 q
discussion OF the Russian ukase
and the treaty of 1925. He
interpreted Mr.. Adams position and de-
clares that the history of the case shows
that England always denied Russia's
claim of maritime jurisdiction in Behr-
ing sea; that the convention of 1875 was
q remuneration of the claim, and that
Behring sea was not then known by
that name, but as part Of the Pacific
ocean. lie closes with the following
instructions to Sir Julian:
Her Majesty's government has always
claimed freedom Of navigation and fishing in
the writer's OF Behring sea outside the usual
territorial limit OF one marine league from the
coast; that IL is impossible TO admit that
public right 10 fsh. catch seals or pursue any
other lawful occupation On the high seas can be
held to be abandoned by nation from the
mere fact that for q certain number Of years II
has not suited the subjects Of that nation TO ex
ercise IL.
.Thave to request that you win communicate
q copy OF this dispatch and OF its Enclosures te
Mr.. Blaine. You will state that her Msiesty'x
government has no desire whatever to refuse
to tho United States any jurisdiction in Behrina
sea which was conceded by Great Erftain 10
Russia, and which properly acerucs TO the
present possessors Of Alaska in virtue
Of treaties or tho law OF nations; and
that II the United States Government
after examination OF the evidence ana argu
ments which have produced. still di1er from
them as TO the legality OF the recent captures
in that sea, they are ready TO agree that the
question, with the issues that depend upon 1t
should be referred TO impartial arbitration You
Will in that case be authorized TO consider. In
concert with Mr.. Blaine, the method OF pro
cedure to be followed"
Secretary Biaine's letter begins with
an insistance upon the correctness OF
the position assumed by the United
States. He believes the controversy
turns upon one point-whether the
phrase Pacific ocean," used in
The treaties of 1924 and 1926,
included Behring sea, as contend
nJ Nv nrif ha
United States can prove the contrary
her case is complete and undeniable.
Mr.. Blaine enters into an exhaustive
argument based on Bancroft history
and maps to show that Mr.. Adams and
his contemporaries had distinct under
standing that the phrase Pacific
ocean" excluded the waters of Behring
sea, then known to the world as the
Sea of Kamtchatka.
Mr.. Blaine cites the protocols of the
treaty of 1924 to show that Russia's re-
llnquishment of Jurisdiction applied
only to the territory between the
50th and 60th degrees. Also an
explanatory note from Russia to
Mr.. Adams in 1924, positively
excepting the Aleutian islands
and the country north of So
degrees and minutes from the con.
cession to the United States of the right
to fish and trade. He also cites the ac-
ton of Great Britain excluding vessels
from the waters within eight leagues of
ST. Helena when Napoleon was con-
fined there, and again refers to the
protection exercised over the Ccy.
lon pearl fisheries by Great Brit
ain, saying he is willing to ac-
cept those provisions for the protec-
ton of the seal fisheries. He speaks oil
the enormous injury inflicted by vessels
under the British nag upon the United
States fisheries and suggests that she
send an intelligent commissioner To- tic
seal islands. Again hc objects &c
the form OF arbitration proposed. and
says it will amount to something
tangible IL Great Britain consent
to arbitrate the real questions discussed
for the last four years: What were the
rights exercised ~ Russia in Bchring
sea? How far were they conceded by
Great Britain? Was Behring sea ,ncludeJ
in the Pacific ocean, Did not the uniteo
States acquire all of Russlas rights;
What are the present rights of the
United States' And If the concurrence
OF Great Britain Is found necessary
then what shall be the protected limits
ard close season? Secretary Blaine he
conclusion denies that the Unliea states
ever claimed Behring sea TO be a closed
sea.
The state of the public mind in En-.
gland N relation 20 the Behring sea
matter is the reverse OF eoncIisatory
Henry White. the American charge
d'ansires in the absence Of Minister
Lincoln. ieAegrsphea in fall 10 the Sec
Rotary OF State iesdisg article in the
Tendon Standard Lord Salisburys per
sonsi organ. Mr. White cseiea the sfti
Gle because il vas known TO him tba. IA
was the personal expression of The
Premier IN respect to the BehTing sea
business II is understood that the
article unequivotzliy diseloses thai
Lord Salisbury will not tnsdrc one Incl
from his arbitration proposals submit
ted 20 Mr. Blaine and declined BIZ the
latter n il also known TO the foreign
ofsce here that the Adler. the Grown
Prince. and the Kaiser Wilhelm. three
Of the best swift cruisers Of the Ger
man navy, vii be ordered away from
south Fseiso waters by xzrch and
viii TAKE their station IN The Northern
Pacific. II Is known - TIE Bureau o.
Naval InteIiigsace here that three q
the fastest Of the nev Enelsh eruise-z
will report ~ Ksaui matt a. ssf the ssrns
ss~& Ia ,*h@r vc~1< EnrTac6 wrfI