Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-11
Lord Salisbury has discovered that England

Lord Salisbury has discovered that England
can accomplish more by negotiations conducted
on proper basis than BY claiming the earth.
the air, the sea and the fulness thereof-to wit.
the American seal In an adroit communica-
ton addressed to the minister of his govern
ment here, with request that the same be shown
to Secretary Blaine. no has signifed his willing
hess to submit the matters at issue between
England and the United States to arbitration.
Salisbury, Of course. endeavors in making the
best Of his case to show that the discussion as
it has proceeded has narrowed the area OF con-
troversy by the United States abandoning the
claim that Bering Sea is a closed sea and falling
back on the Russian ukase Of 1921, which pro-
hibited the approach, within one hundred miles
Of the coast and islands of foreign vessels and
the acceptance by Great Britain Of the terms
Of the prohibition in the Anglo-Russian
treaty of 1925 Russia, he contends, did
not and could not give rights of fish
ing and navigation in the Pacific Ocean
to England, for they were not hers to give
they were natural rights. His central point
seems to be this: The rights Of the United
States are those formerly possessed by Rnssia
and do not exceed those that international law
extends TO all in open seas. the Boring being
like any other sea. gulf or bay that forms part
Of an ocean. The British premier expresses
satisfaction that the President il willing to
refer to arbitration what he conceives to be the
matters which have been under discussion be-
tween the two governments, and while he does
not sgree to all the questions submitted by Mr..
Blaine heretofore published in The STAR he
says that no objection will be offered by Her
Majesty's government to several of them. He
objects to the implication of rights growing
ont of the ownership of the breeding
islands and the habits of seals in re-
sorting thereto, and states that Great
Britain is not prepared to accede to such as
sumption as to the prescriptions of inter-
national law at the present time. In referring
to arbitration the general question of closed
period in seal fishing he objects to the use Of
words appearing to attribute special and all
normal rights IN the matter to the United
States. and in closing he says that there is an
omission in the Secretary's questions, which he
has no doubt the government of the President
will be very glad to repair, and that il the
reference to an arbitrator of the question of
what damages are due to the British seslers
seized by the United States without the war
rant of international law.
A great deal has been gained. since an early
and arnieable settlement of these matters is
earnestly desired by both nations, in the ac-
eeptance by Great Britain of the American
offer Of arbitration The letter Of Lord Sails
bury to Minister Pauncefote is, in effect, an
official rebuke of the alarrnists-some of whom
have endeavored within forty-eight hours to
embroil the two kindred people in war. The
settlement of vexed questions by arbitration
is the modern way, and it is at once more
rational and more civilized.