The record-union., 1891-06-02
President Harrison Favors a Close
Season Until the Controversy is Sat-
isfactori1y Settled, But Insists That
the North American Commercial
Company Be Allowed to XIII Male
Seals Enough to Supply the Natives
With Food.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1ox.


Der of miles of the Pribyloff Islands.
Lord Salisbury, fearing this might pro-
woke a conflict, concluded to propose q
suspension of sealing by both nations
during arbitration, or during the season
of 1891.
Mr.. Blaine refers to the Presidents
anxiety to receive an answer before leav-
ing for his Western tour, which answer he
did not get. The silence of Lord Sails
bury seemed to imply that he would not
restrain Canadian sealers from enter
ing Behring Sea, and as all intelligence
from British Columbia showed that the
sealers were getting ready to sail in large
numbers, the President found that he
could not with justice prevent the lessees
from taking seals in the Pribyloff Is
lands. The President therefore instructed
the Secretary of the Treasury to issue the
lesSees a privilege of taking the maxi
mum number Of 10000 seals the coming
season, subject to the discretion of the
special agent to limit the killing to as
small number as the condition of the
herd might demand.
On the I'D Of April Blaine received a
notice from Pauncefote that Lord Sails
bury was ready to agree TO the PROPOSE
ton, and Mr.. Blaine telegraphed it to the
L ICSIC6lil LIE IdJb6E G6DllGu OH ADIl
18th, expressing satisfaction and instruct
ing Blaine to inform Pauncetote that
some seals must be killed by the natives
for food; that the leSSeeS are bound under
their lease from the Government to feed
and care for the natives, etc.
Pauncefote replied on April Goth that he
did not agree with the Presidents sug-
gestion, and expressed the belief that
Salisbury would not accept it; that the
killing of seals must be cut off abso-
lutely
Mr.. Blaine thereupon submitted to
PauncefOte q statement of exactly what
terms, in regard to caring for the natives
of Alaska, We're imposed on the North
American Company by the lease. In
short, means of living, facilities for edu-
cation, care of health, training Of old and
young in communities Of over 300 per-
sons, are imposed on the company by a
specific article of the lease If the com
pany should, as Pauncefote says Sails
bury requests, be deprived of all priyi-
lege of taking seals, they certainly could
not be compelled to minister to the wants
of these people for the entire year. 1t
evidently requires a considerable sum of
money to furnish all the requisite sup
plies, which must be carried !, 900 miles on
a specially chartered steamer.
If the leSsees are not to be allowed pay
ment in any way for this they viii
naturally decline the expense. No APP
preparation has been made by Congress
for this purpose, and the President can
not leave this worthy and innocent people
TO the hazard Of starvation, even to secure
any form of agreement with Lord Sails
bury touching the seal life. The seal life
may be absolute, but the first duty of the
Government of the United States is to
protect human life.
In this eXigency the President asks
that Lord Salisbury concede to the North
American Company the right to take suf-
hcient mum Der of seals to recOmpenSe them
for their outlay, and, after a full consider
alton, the Secretary of the Treasury has
fixed the maximum at 800 to be killed;
that no females be killed, so that the pro-
ductive capacity of the herd be not
diminished.
Secretary Blaine then renews the propo-
sition that the Governments agree to
suspension Of the sealing, subject to the
above proviso, saying that the President
believes the propositions are calculated to
produce a result at once fair and honora-
bic to both Governments and thus lead to
permanent adjustment of the contro-
yersy, which has already been too long
left at issue.
On May 5th Sir Julian Pauncefote re-
piled to Mr.. Blaine, stating that he had
forwarded TO Lord Salisbury copy of
the Secretary's note and had cabled his
lordship to the precise terms Of the pro-
poSal. The British Minister regrets to
lind some misconception as regards the
complaint OF delay in acquainting Lord
Salisbury with Mr.. Blaine's second alter
native. This proposal for a cessation of
the killing, he says, was originally
made to him verbally by Mr.
Blaine, and he expressed some re-
Iuctance at sending any more proposals to
Lord Salisbury, while the latter's dis
patch of February Dist last, by submit
ting arbitration proposals, remained I'M
answered, and suggested that it would be
more satisfactory il this new proposal for
the cessation of killing was made con-
currently with MIR. BlaineS reply, and
understood Mr.. Blaine to assent TO their
suggestions. If Mr.. Blaine had informed
him that the President, for any reason,
desired this alternative should be tele-
graphed to Lord Salisbury, he need not
hardly say he should have at once COM
piled with his wishes. But he cannot
recall to mind that the Presidents name
was ever mentioned in that talk, which
was merely conversational exchange of
views. No appreciabIe loss of time oc-
CURED, however, as he acquainted Lord
Salisbury with the proposal by mail, and
received prompt answer by telegraph,
which enabled him to inform Secretary
Blaine on April Goth that his lordship
was disposed to consider the proposal
AT an interview at your residence, on
the sd of April" continues the Minister,
You expressed satisfaction at Lord Sal
lsbury's reply, and stated that before
taking further steps you desired to COM
municate by telegraph with the Presi-
dent. At further interview at your
residence, on the 9th, you stated that the
President desired that the modlts Uiveada
should contain q reservation of the right
to kill certain number of seals for the
support of the natives, etc. At first sight
this reservation caused me some disap-
pointment. It certainly appeared open
to exceptions, as detraeting from the
principle of equality which was the feat
ure of the original proposals.
was concerned that it never was the in
tention of the President and yourself that
the modus Viuendi should be put in
force until the arbitration terms were
settled. This, I feared, would prevent q
timely application of the modaS oiuendl,
and | notice with satisfaction that no
such condition is affixed to your present
proposals, although the reservation as to
the killing of limited number of seals
is maintained. am glad to think there