Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-01-08
BEHRINC SEA.
Additional Correspondence Sent to
the House.
VIEWS OF BLAINE AND SALISBURY.
The Question Turning on the Point whether
Behring Sea Is "a Part Of the Pacific
Oeean--No Extreme Position
Advanced

WAsmINGroN, Jan, 6.-rhe President
has sent TO the House, Ia response 10
it's recent resolution, the correspond
ence between the State Department and
the British Government in regard TO the
Behring sea controversy. II consists
merely OF two letters, one from Lord
Salisbury 70 the British Minister, reply
ing to Mr.. Blaine's last letter, which
was given TO the public during last ses-
sion of Congress, and the response
written by Mr.. Blaine ON December II,
1900. Both letters, however, are ex-
tremely long and accompanied by nu-
merous historical documents, making
in the full correspondence presented TO
the House some forty foolscap
pages Of closely printed matter.
The first letter from Lord Sails
bury 20 Minister Pauncefote Is dated
August ., 1890, After quoting from the
Adams correspondence and from the
treaties by the three Powers and other
official documents relating 10 the status
Of Behring sea, he says that the extracts
show conclusively:
l. That England refused TO admit any
the ukase Of 1921 to the maritime juris-
diction and the exclusive right Of fish
ing throughout the whole extent Of
waters from Behring straits TO the
Fifty-first parallel.
. That the commission Of 1875 was
regarded on both sides as "a renunciation
Of the Russian claim in its entirety.
Q. That though Behring straits were
known and specifically provided for,
Behring sea was known by that name,
but was regarded as part of the Pacific
ocean. The answer, therefore, TO the
question with which Mr.. Blaine con-
eludes his dispatch is that her Majesty s
Government has always claimed the
freedom Of fishing or navigating Behr-
ing sea outside the territorial limit of
one marine league from the coast; that
II is impossible TO admit that public
right 10 fish, catch seal or pursue any
other occupation on the high seas can
be held 10 be abandoned by nation
from the mere fact that for a certain
number of years il has not suited the
subjects of that nation TO exercise Il,
Mr. Blaine's letter in response, dated
December II, 1890, begins by saying
that il is the opinion of the President
that the subject, like many legal ques-
tious, though complicated, depends on
the statement Of one single point Great
Britain contends that the Pacific ocean
does include Behring sea and the United
States holds the reverse. lie holds that
Behring sea was understood AT the time
Of the treaty by the three Powers not 10
be included in the phrase, Pacific
ocean, and il this be true, then the
ease of the United States against Great
Britain is good one. lie then pro-
ceeds at great length 20 quote from the
documents relating to the negotiations
and consummation of the treaty OF the
three Powers in question, and from
other documents bearing upon the sub
ject.
Mr. Blaine closes very long com /
munication with suggestions apparently /.
favorable 10 meeting the arbitration
already held ont by the British Govern
ment He states that the United States /
only wants control Of the waters Of the /
Behring sea as win be sufficient 70 in |
sure the protection Of her seal fisheries, /
which he deems already injured possi- /
bly, to an irreparable extent by the in /
trusion Of Canadian vessels, nm /
der British colors. that the \
Presidents recent annual message /
10 Congress contained suggestions .
that the form of arbitration proposed /
would bc satisfactory to no one. He |
then suggests that the following points /
are the ones which have been at issue
for four years-the Russian jurisdiction
of the Behring sea up 10 the time OF the
concession of Alaska 10 the United
States; how Great Britain considers
these claims; how Behring sea was con-
in the treaty of 1928. and what
rights were given or received under that
treaty; what the rights of the United
States now are, and out of what they
grew.
If these questions could be deter
mined, then Secretary Blaine suggests
that it shall be further determined how
far, II at all. outside the ordinary terri
torial limits is il necessary That the nitcd
States should exercise an exclusive jur-
in order to protect the seal for
the time living upon the islands OF the
United States and feeding therefrom;
the closed season is necessary;
what months shall be included in such
season. The letter closes with denial
that the United States demands the
closing OF Behring sea.
Molten Metal Explosion.
CmCAGe. Jan. 6.-The receiver OF an
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