The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-16
SAYING The SEALS.
Proclamation Issued by Presi-
dent Harrison.
Agreement With Great Britain Concerning
The BehriDS Sea.
Revenue Cutters Sent North With Orders
to Strictly Enforce the LaW-The
Diplomatic Correspondence.
specIsl to THE MORNING CALI.

and the Government of her Britannia
Majesty. in relation to the fur seal fisheries
IN Behring Sea, was concluded Oh the 18th
of June. 1t reads as follows:
For the purpose of avoiding irritating differ
ences, and with View TO promote the friendly
Sett ment OF the questions peadiug between the
two Governments touching their respective rights
Ia Behring Sea and for The preservation of the
seal species, the following agreement IS made
without prejudice TO the rights or claims OF
either paTty
l. Her Majesty's Government will prohibit,
until May next. seal-kllling in that part of
Behfing Sea lying eastward OF the line OF de-
malkaiton, described in Article OF the treaty
OF 1867 between The United States and Russia.
and will promptly use its best efforts TO insure
the observance of this prohibition by British
2 The United States Government will prohibit
sealkilling for tie same period In the same part
o. o., Beh'ing Sea and on the shores ana ISLANDS
cess OF 1900, TO be taken on the Islands tor the
subsistence and care of the natives, ana will
promptly its best efforIs 10 insure the OBJ.
serVance Of this prohibition by United States
etiZenS and vessels.
3. Every vessel or person offending against
this prohibition In said waters of Behrlng Sea,
outside OF the ordinary territorial limits OF tho
Quilted States, may be sieZed and detained by
naval or other duly commissioned officers of
either Of the high contracting parties; but they
shall be handed over as soon as pI Iacicabie to
the authorities Of The nation 10 which they re-
speetlVely belong. who alone has jurisdiction 10
same. The witnesses and proofs necessary 10
establish the Offense shall also be With them
4. In order 10 facilitate such proper inquiries
as her MaieNty's Government may desire to
make, with the view 10 the presentation OF
case. that agreement for arbitration may ne ar
rived at II is agreed that suitable pc sons desig
Dated by Great Britain, Will be permitted at any
time. upon application, 10 visit, or 10 remain
upon the seal Islands curing Tie present sealing
season for that purpose.
Signed aud sealed in duplicate at Washington,
this 18th day OF June, 1891, In behalf of their
respective Governments, by William +. Whar-
ton Acting Secretary of State, for The United
States, and Sir Julian PauncefOle, Envoy Ex-
traordlnary and Minister PleDlpotentlary for
Great Britain.
Now therefore. be 1t known that 1. Beuiamin in
Harrison, President OF The United states OF
America, have caused said agreement 10 be
made public TO The end that the same aud every
part thereof may be observed and fulfilled with
good faith by the United States OF America aud
The citizens thereof
In witness whereof | have hereuntO set my
hand and caused the seal OF tie Uuited states to
be atiX d.
ENFORCING THE PROCLAMATION.
The arrangement indicated in the abo We
proclamation has been carried to compile
tion with degree of speed without precedent
in the history Of the State Department, aud
the cable has been relied upon to an un-
wonted extent. The agreement was signed
this morning BY Sir Julian Pauneefote and
Wharton. and the Presidential proclamation
followed as quickly as it could be prepared.
The Navy Department has been advised
of the progress and necessities of the case
and orders are now in preparation for the
immediate dispatch of probably two ma val
vessels from San Francisco 10 Alaska, where
they will assist the revenue cutters in the
task of driving off pOaching sealing vessels.
1t will be tced that the agreement author
ICES the United States vessels to seize of
Tending British vessels, which, however, are
TO be turned over TO the British author ties
for trial, and this feature Of the agreement is
expected to prove OF great value in the press
ing emergency that is held to exist in clearing
out the law-br eaking vessels before irrepar-
able damage can be done to the seal fisheries.
THE DIPLOMATIC CoRRESPo NDENCE.
The Department of State this afternoon
made public the latest correspondence on
the subject. 1t begins with a note dated
June 81, from Sir Julian Pauncefote in re-
ply t. Secretary Blaine'S letter Of May 4th.
Replying to those propositions Sir Julian
replied with an amended draft of an agree
ment which differs from the one signed to-
day in covering by an interdict against the
killing of seals, the whole of the Behrng
Sea and It's islands. 1t also provided for
British Consuls to be sent to the islands
this summer, and that the convention should
not come into operation unless RuSSia's as
sent was obtained. In reply the President
offered proposition suggesting such
changes as would give the mOduS viveudi
the same territory extent with the pending
proposals for arbitration, and that the stipu-
lation for the prohibition of the killing of
seals upon the Islands of the United States
might rest upon its wn order and that the
obligations of the respective Governments
10 give prompt and vigorous effect to the
agreement might be more clearly apparent.
NO CoNsULS NEEDED.
The President stated that no British Con-
suar functions could be exercised on the
Behring Sea Islands, but reasonable facil-
ties might be extended Great Britain for in
vestgating at the islands any facts involved
in the controversy to be arbitrated. The
bringing of Russia into the affair at this
time would prove simply prohibitive of the
agreement upon the modus vivendi, and
could not be granted by the United States.
On this point the official communications
says THE fourth clause of the proposal Of
her Majesty Government, limiting the TAX
ing effect OF the mOduS vlvendi upon the as
sent OF Russia, presents what seems to the
President to be an inSIperable difficulty, as
the adherence to that suggestion by her
Majesty's Government will, in his opinion,
prevent the conclusion of any agree
ment. and will inevitably cause such
delay as to thwart tire purposes
which he must suppose both Governments
have had In view. He Is surprised that this
result did not suggest itself 10 Lord Sails
bury and does not doubt it will be appar-
ent TO him on re-examinatlon. l am
also directed to remind you that
the contention between the United
States and Great Britain has been
limited to that part of Behring Sea
eastward Of the line of demarcati0n de-
Scri6ed in our convention with Russia, to
| which reference has already been made, and
that Russia has never asserted any rights
in these waters affecting the subject matter
n ont nd
be necessary party 10 these negotiations
If they are not now improperly expanded.
POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT.
Under the statutes of the United States
| the President Is authorized TO prohibit seal
ing in BehTing Sea within the limits in
| Scribed in our convention with Russia and
| to restrict he killing Of seals on the islands
| conferred upon him to make penal
the taking of seals in the
waters Of Behring Sea westward Of
the line referred to, or upon any other
| shores or inlandS thereof. 1t was never
| supposed by any one representing the
| Government Of the United States in this
correspondence or by the President that an
agreement for the modus vivendi could be
broader than the subject of contention"
| 1t is stated I'm the correspondence of the
| respective governments that negotiation for
| arbitration had been proceeding between
bhV OHiACh OtdLSS dHQ otOat DiitNiut duN II
! these powers are campetentt0 settle by this
| friendly method their respective rights and
relations in the disputed waters upon
permanent basis 1t would seem TO follow
| that no question could arise as to their
| competency to deal directly with the sub
| ject of single season. IL Great Britain
| now insists upon impossible conditions, viz,
| that the conclusion of the modus
| vivendi is 10 be delayed until aud
made contingent upon the assent
| Of Russia 10 stop the killing of
seals Of its own islands, and IN its own
water, and upon the exercise by the Presi-
dent of powers not conferred by law, this
would be, in lis opinion, practical with
| drawal by Great Britain from the negotia-
| tons for the modus vivendi.
| LORD sALIsBURY's REPLY.
| The cupgestion that aitbar nawpr MIGHT