The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-06-02
THE BEHRING SEA.
Correspondence on the Fishery
Question Made Public.
TIE ARRANGEMENT IN DETAIL.

Reply - Acting Secretary Adcc's
Personal Note TO the British Min
fstcr.
WASHINGTON, June 2.-The state de-
partment yesterday made public the re-
cent correspondence on the Behring sea
fishery question. The first communica-
ticn is from Secretary Blaine to Sir Ju-
ian Pauncefote. 1t reads:
wAsHiNuroS, May A. Sir: During the
month of March last, few days after the adj
1ournment of congress, acting under instruc-
tions of the president, proposed TO you that
a rnodus yiyendi be agreed upon touching tho
seal fisheries, pending the result Of arbitra-
tnn OF the question at issue between the two
governments. The presidents first proposal
which is submitted TO you was that no Cana
clan sealer should be allowed TO come within
certain number of miles of the PrihyloH
islands. 1t was, however, the conclusion Of the
president, after reading Lord Salisbury's dis
patch OF Feb. q, that the inodus vivcndi might
possibly provoke conflict in the Bchring sea,
and to avoid that result he instructed INC TO
propose that sealing, both on land and sea,
should bo suspended by both nations during
the progress of arbitration, or during the sea-
son of lSOl. On both occasions il was u con-
versational exchange of views-the first In my
office at the state department, the second at
my residence. The president was desirous of
compile response from Lord Salisbury to his
second proposition, SO that venturod 10 sug-
gcst that you request an answer by cable II
practicable.
The silence OF Lord Salisbury implied, as
seemed not improbable, that he would not re-
strain the Canadian scalers from entering
Eehring sea, and as all intelligence from Brit
.sh Columbia showed that the sealcrs were
getting ready TO sail In large numbers, the
president found that he could not, with JUS
tice, prevent the lessces from taking seal on
the Pribyloff Islands. The president, there
fore instructed the secretary of the treasury,
who has official charge of the subject, TO issue
20 the lessces the privilege Of killing seal on
the Prlbyloff island the coming season. tie
maximum number TO be GO,OO0
On April q you notified me that Lord Sails
pury was ready TO agree that ull scaling should
be suspended, pending the result OF nrbtra-
tion. On April 20 telegraphcd Lord Sails
bury's proposition TO the president. He re-
Blied, April %, expressing great satisfaction
with Lord Salisbury's message, but instructing
me to formulate: 'Some seals must be kille d
by the natives for food" etc.
The president expressed his belief that this
allowance would be readily agreed 10 by Lord
salisbury, because the necessity is absolute.
You will remember that when l communI-
snted this proposition from the president TO
vou on the evening Of Monday, April n, you
did not agree with the presidents suggestion.
On the contrary, you expressed yourself as
confident that Lord Salisbury would not ac-
copt, In land and In the water, and that 1t
could not be stopped on either unless stopped
on both. The president refuses to believe that
Lord Salisbury can possibly maintain the posi-
tion you have taken, when his lordship is
placed In full possession of the facts which
ShEll now submit TO you, somewhat in detail.
The Proposed Arrangement.
The government Of the United States limits
the number of seal to be killed on the islands
for the purpose just described 1900.
Tho government of the United States guar
entees that no seal shall be killed In the open
waters of Behring sea - any persons on any
eos el sailing under the American nag, or by
any American citizen sailing under any other
Gag
The government of Great Britain guarantees
that any seal shall be killed in the open
waters Of the Behring sea by any person on
any vessel sailing under the British flag, and
that no British subject shall engage in killing
seal for the time agreed upon ON any vessel
sailing under any other flag.
\ These prohibitions shall continue until tho
nrst day of May, 1880, within which time the
Arbitrators shall render final award or awards
20 both governments.
These several propositions arc submitted for
the consideration of Lord Salisbury. The
President believes that they are calculated to
produce result at once fair and honorable To
both governments, and thus lead to the per-
mAnent adjustment of controversy which
has already been left too long at issue.
Ihave the honor to be, sir. with the highest
consideration, your obedient servant,
JAMES G. BLAINE.
To this Sir Julian responded as follows:
BRITISH LEGATION, WASHINGTON, Mny5.
Sir: have the honor 10 acknowledge the re-
cept of your note of yesterday In which you
have formulated for the consideration of the
Marquis of Salisbury detailed proposals for
''modus vivendi" during the approaching fish
CRY season on Behring sea.
/ have forwarded to the Lord Salisbury by
this days mail copy Of your note, and have
tclegraphed to his lordship tho precise terms
Of the proposal with which It concludes.
You may remember that / expressed some
reluctance at sending any further proposals to
his lordship Willie his dispatch of Feb. 81 last
tsubmitting amendments on the question for
arbitration r'mained unanswered, and that
] suggested that IL would be more satisfactory
81 this new proposal were made concurrently
with your reply TO that dispatch, which hope
20 receive with the least possible delay. un-
ocrstood you to assent to that suggestion and
10 say that you would proceed In that order"
acquainted Lord Salisbury with your alter
native proposal by tho mail Of April Ia few
Nays only after It was made) and received
prompt answer by telegraph, which enabled
ms 10 inform you by my note of April ~ that
his lordship was disposed to consider the pro-
posnl favorably.
, NJ an interview at your own residence on
April 70 you expressed your satisfaction at
qGei Salisbury's reply, and you stated that be-
fore any further steps you desired to COM
municate by telegraph with the president.
At n further interview at your residence on
the 9th you informed me that the president
desired that the modus viyendi should con-
fas,, reservation of the right to kill certain
nuG,ber Of seal for the support OF the natives
of tao Pribyloff islands," But / was convinced
nj your stating that 1t never was the in
tention of the president or of yourself that the
modus vivendi should be put in force until tho
terms OF arbitration had been settled. no.
tice with satisfaction that no such condition
Is affixed to your present proposal, although
che reservation as to the killing OF a limited
number OF seal on the islands is maintained.
have the honor to be, with the highest con-
eideration, sir, your most obedient servant
JULIAN PAuNcEFoTE
On May 20 Acting Secretary Adee ad-
dressed the following personal note to
the British minister:
! WASHINGTON, May 20-My Dear Sir Julian;
The president is dssirous to learn the reply of
qacr Inaiaatr,a gnYernmeni To ihe is.,,