The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-07
Rahrinz Sea War Talk.

1
In England the Behring sea question is
regarded as a serious one, and the tone Of
some Of the English papers is rather war
like. Our dispatches yesterday contained
/ synopsis OF the correspondence between
! Secretary Blaine and Lord Salisbury,
showing the present status Of the dispute
| The two governments are no nearer to an
agreement, apparently, than they we're when
the dispute first began TO attract attention
Lord Salisbury says that he is willing 10
submit the differences between the United
States and England to impartial arbi ra-
| ton, and Mr. Blaine is also willing to agree
TO an arbitration. bu. unfortunately the
points which Lord Salisbury is willing to
have arbitrated are not, according to Mr..
Blaine, the really important ones.
Mr.. Blaine claims for the United States
the exclusive right to catch seals in certain
parts Of Behring sea. He asserts that
Russia, when Alaska was a Russian posses
sion, had this right, and that the United
States, having purchased Alaska, has all
the rights, so far as Behring sea is con-
cerned, that Russia had.
Lord Salisbury, on the part of England,
declares that England never adm ttei
Russia's claim to the exclusive right Of fish
ing in Behring sea, but that, on the con-
trary, she has always maintained that
navigation and fishing in the waters of that
sea, outside Of the usual territorial limit
Of one marine league from the coast, we're
free. He admits, however, that for a GER
tain number Of years English subjects did
not exercise their right of fishing and catch
ing seals in that sea. The reason they did
not exercise it, he says, was beca-se British
Columbia, as a COLONY, came into exist
ence at comparatively recent period, and
the attention of the colonists was given to
matters other than the developing Of their
shipping interests. The points he is willing
t. arbitr tie are whether England ever con-
coded to Russia the exclusive jurisdiction Of
behring sea, and whether the recent capt
ures OF British vessels in that sea by
American revenue cutters were legal.
Mr.. Blaine makes the point that whether
or not England ever formally recognized
Russia's exclusive juridiction over Behring
sea is a matter Of little consequence. He
asserts that Russia did claim such
jurisdiction, and that England tacitly
recognized it by not questioning it,
and by respecting it. The questions
he is willing to submit to arbitration are
the following: What were the rights exer-
cised by Russia in Behring sea7 How far
were they conc ded by Englandl Was
Behring sea included in the Pacific oceaul
Did not the United States acquire all of
Russla's rights. and what are the present
iOhk - Ell Ut
There are other points which Mr.. Blaine
wants submitted to arbitration They look
to the protection of the seal fishe les, which
would soon be destroyed if all nations we're
permitted to catch as many seals as they
pleased and at any season of the year.
Mr.. Blaine cites several instances in which
England has exercised exclusive jurisdic-
ton over portions of other seas at greater
distance than one marine league from the
coast, and has done 80 notwithstanding that
she greatly interfered with the commerce
Of other nations. And he points out that
this country does not claim that Behring
sea is closed sea, and that it claims ex-
elusive jurisdiction over certain portions Of
that sea for one purpose only, and that is to
| protect the seals. The protection OF the
seals is a matter in which all civilized
nations are interested.
England would not have interested her
self at all in this B ,hring sea matter had she
not felt that it was necessary to do SO to
show Canada that she was looking out for her
welfare, and in that way to stifle the feeling
in favor of independence that is beginning
to crop out there.
But there will be no war. Neither this
country nor England wants war. A way
will be found to settle the trouble without
an appeal to arms, and when a settlement is
reached this country will not have given up
the exclusive right to take seals in Behring
sea which it has enjoyed so many years