Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-06-16
SEALING STOPPED.
Uncle Sam and John Bull Sign
Modus Viveadi.
THEEUR BEARERS SAFE UNTIL MAY

All Poaehers To BE the Legitimate Meat
cf Bither. American or British Naval
Ncssel--Coneiusion of the First stage
of the observation-disclosures of the
Correspondence Between the Govern
mentsAseme Points in Which Lord
Salisbury Met Something Very Rigid
in the'way of Backbone.
WAsHISGToN CITY, June 16-The first
agreement between Great Britain and the
United States relating 20 the Behring sea
controversy was signed yesterday, and
the president Immediately issued a proc
lamation declaring 1t in force from this
date. Secretary Foster has also tele-
grapbest Capt Hooper, commanding the
steamer COrwin at san Francisco, 10 pro
coed with all possible dispatch TO the
Pribylov islands with copies Of the presi-
dents PROCLAMATION for distribution to in
terested parties. commanders Of all United
States and British war or revenue vessels,
and then proceed TO enforce the provis-
ions Of the proclamation. The agreement
is a modus vivendi. which stops sealing in
the waters of Behring sea until next MAY.
and was carried 10 completion with a
speed unprecedented in the history Of the
state department, nearly all the negotia-
tions being carried on by cable
summary of the NIodus Vfvendi.
The modus vivendi provides that the
United States and Great Britain each VIII
prohibit the killing of seals in Behring sea
east Of the line Of Russian domain until
next May; that vessels flying either flag or
manned by citizens or subjects OF either
government, caught violating this agree
ment shall bs subject TO seizure by the ma
val vessels of either government, to be
handed over as soon as practicable to the
proper jurisdiction, and that in order to
iacllltaye such proper inquiries as her ma
Iesty's government may desire 10 make
with view 70 the presentation of the case
OF that government before arbitrator. and
In expectation that an agree ment for arbi-
tration may be arrived at. il is agreed that
suitable persons designated by Great Brit
ain will be permitted at any time, upon
application, to visit or remain upon the
seal islands during the present sealing
season for that purpose The right OF the
United States TO kill 100 seals ! one Of
the conditions Of agreement
The Preliminary Negotiations.
The correspondence leading up 10 this
agreement i voluminous and at several
points difficulties arose which leopard
lied the success Of the negotiations, but
they were all smoothed over. pri ncipallv
by concessions made by Lord Salisbury.
who seems to have stumbled into several
pits OF obstruction. The first proposition
came from England and included the
whole OF Behring sea in the prohibition,
provided for a British consul on the isl
ands and for the consent of Russia The
president objected to all three Of these: the
first because the United States had no
jurisdiction in Behring sea west Of the
Russian line. and that part Of the sea had
no place IN the arbitration Of the ques-
ton.
4 Consal Out of the Question.
\ consul on the islands was utterly i'm
possible because the United States laws
forbade any one 20 live on the islands IN
less authorized By the treasury. The CON
sent Of Russia was objected 20 because il
would delay matters until it was too late
and Lecause tne controversy : limited 70
that part Of the Sea over which Russia
has no control The proposition was de-
clared 70 present an insuperable difficulty.
and Lord Salisbury was practically TOLD
that insisteuce thereupon would stop the
whole business. II was impossible 70
make this agreement broader than the
whole subject OF contention. The president
therefore hoped that upon reconsideration
Lord Salisbury would waive his sagses-
lions.