The morning call., 1891-11-11
THE SEALING QUESTION.
An Agreement Said 10 Have Been Reached
With Great Britain.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-The public was
taken into the confidence Of the diplomatic
branch OF the Government this afternoon
in the continuation of the hearing in tfe
Sayward case, aud the first announcement
was made that the prolonged diplomatic
correspondence between Secretary Blaine
and Lord Salisbury had resulted in an
agreementby which with the consent OF the
Senate, the long pending dispute over the
seal fisheries in the Behring Sea would be de1-
nitely settled. Solicitor General Taft, who
was addressing the court made the first In
timation that the correspondence between
the two countries had reached the point OF
an agreement upon arbitration. he stopped
at this point. when Justice Gray desired
some more explicit statement, as to whether
the agreement upon arbitration had been
actually reached. The Solicitor General
heSitated TO reply and intimated that per-
haps he had revealed more than he, not be-
ing Cabinet officer and being authorized
to speak only on legal questions, should
have done. TheTeupOn Attorney-GeneraI
Miller himself interposed and not only
substantated all the Solicitors General had
said, but went further and announced that
the Government had effected an agreement
This was practically the first announce
ment made as to the progress of the Behr-
ing Sea negotiations since the last CORE
spondence was made public showing the
difference Of opinion between ike two Gov
ernments as to the points of arbitration.
HOW THE NEWS LEAKED OUT.
1t was surprising that the news should
first come out in all argument in court, and
the Attorney General was asked after the
adjournment If lie would throw some light
on the subject. 1T is true that an agree
ment upon arbitration has been reached, !"
he said. Yes" he added, "the matter has
NnFNfN
that is. subject TO ratification by the Sen
ate"
What are the points of arbitration"
II cannot say any more than SAID III
court. Why don't you go TO the State De-
partment? Yes, you can state as q fact that
an agreement has been conclued."
Solicitor General Taft was next seen, but
would only confirm what the Attorney-Gen-
eral had said. "In the last correspondence,
| you know" he said, there was simply a
difference between the two Cover ments as
| to the points OF arbitration. Well, the
| correspondence since then has resulted in a
| treaty. which now only needs to be ratified
| by the Senate"
THE OFFICIALS NoN-CoMMITTAL.
The reporter suggested it was something &
| unusual 10 hear the announcement Of such
| important news in an argument in court.
| But IL is fact" was the response
Secretary 1Bane positively declined to
| make any statement touching the matter
| The inference drawn from the develop
| ments to-day, including the statement made
| by the Attorney General to the representa-
| tive of the Associated Press as shown above,
| is that the President will submit to the SEN
| ate an agreement in the nature of a treaty
| between the United States and Great Brit
| ain, by which the two parties bind them
| selves to accept as final and conclusive the
definition to be given bv the arbitrators of
the exact rights of the United States in the
| Behring Sea. as well as 10 pay any awards of
! damages suffered by the nation declared to
! have had the true contention. 1t is also
| presumed that the arbtratorS have been Sc
lected, but none of the officials seen would
| discuss The details Of the agreement doubt
| less for the reason il has to be submitted to
the Senate for ratification, and therefore
comes under the executive session rules OF
! the Senate. which require secrecy to be OBJ
| served.
When Mr.. Taft finished his argument
Mr. Choate, in behalf OF Great Britain, ad-
| dressed the court.