Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-08
BLAINE SPEAKS OUT
On EDgland'S Inconsistency in the
Bering Sea Controversy.
ANOTHER NOTE TO SALISBURY.
Rights Of the United States in Bering Sea
Clearly Set Forth.
SALISBURY ACCUSED OF PERyERSIOS

"DEPARTMEST OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, April IA
"SIR-The notifications Ghlch Lort
Salisbury suggests in the questions for arbi
tration do not wholly meet the views OF th
President, but the President changes th
text ofthe third and fifth in such manner
Il is hoped, as will result in an agreement
between the two Governments. Whil'
Lord Salisbury suggests different mode o
procedure frcm that embodied in the sixth
question, the President does not understand
him actually to object to the question, aud
therefore, assumes that it is agreed TO. The
six questions, as now proposed by the Presi
dent are az follows:
"First-What exclusive jurisdiction in
the sea now known as the Bering Sea, and
what exclusive rights in the seal fisheries
therein did Russia assert and exercise prior
and up 10 the time Of the cession Of Alaska
TO the United States?
''SeCond-How far were those claims OF
Jurisdiction as to the seal fisheries recognized
and conceded by Great Britain?
Rights in Bering Sea.
"Third-Was the body Of water known as
the Bering Sea included in the phrase
Pacific Ocean, as used in the treaty Of
1925 between Great Britain and Russia,
and what rights, il anv, in the Bering Sea
were held and exclusively exercised by Rus
sia after said treaty?
'Fourth-Did rot all the rights of Russia
rs to Jurisdiction ard as to the seal fisheries
in BcrinS Sea, east of the water boundary
.I,o
States ard Russia, of March 30. 1867. pass un-
impaired 10 the United States under that
freatyf
''Fifth-Has the United States any right,
ana If SO. what right OF protection or property
in the fur seals freQuenling the islands of the
United States in Boring Sea, when such seals
are found outside the ordinary three-mile
limii7
''Sixih-Ifthe determination of the foregoing
questions shah leave the subject in such posi-
tion that the concurrence of Great Britain is
necessary IL prescribing regulations for the
killing OF the fur seal in anv part of the waters
of Bering Sea, then il shall be further deter
mined. First how far, if at all. outside the ordi-
nary territorial limits 1t is necessary that the
Cnlted States should exercise an exclusive
jurisdiction, in order TO protecs the seal for the
1me living upon the islands of the United
States and feeding therefrom; second, whether
closed season tdurIng which the killing of
seals in the waters of Bering Sea outside the
ordinary territorial limits snail be prohibited)
v.
SO valuable and important to mankind from
deterioration or destruction? And if So third,
what months OF parts of months should be in
Ciuded IN season and over what waters it should
extend.
Damage to English Vessels.
''The President does not object to the add.
tionAl question respecting alleged damage to
English ships, proposed by Lord Salisbury, being
added, namely, that after the issues of the
arbitration are joined. II the United States
shall prevail, all the seals taken by Canadian
vessels during the period shall be paid for at
the ordinary price for which skins are sold.
Lord Salisbury complains that did not deal
with certain protests written by Lord London
derry and the Duke OF Wellington in 1872 which
he had before quoted. IL I've will recur to the
S6th and 2Ith pages OF my dispatch of Decem-
beT Il, he viii observe that l especially dealt
with these; that L maintained. and | think
proved from the text. tina: there was not a
single word in those protests referring to the
Euage of the Duke of Wellington of the 18th
Of October, 1922, only TO the lands extending
along the shores of the Pacific Ocean from lat
ituGe 4y' to latitude COS north.
ProIest of Lord Londonderry.
IN the first paragraph OF Lord Loudonderry's
protest oil January Is Is-a, addressed to Count
Levenr Of Russia he alluGed to the matters in
dispute as especially connected with the terri
torial rites of tha Russian crown on the north
west coast of America, bordering on the Pacific
Ocean, and the commerce ana navigation of His
Imperial M&!eSty's subjects in the seas adjacent
Therein.
From tLese and other pertinent facts. it is
eTluent hat the protests of Lord Londonderry
and the Duke of w wellington had nothing vha.
ever TO 90 with the points now in issue between
the American and British Governments con-
corning the waters OF the Bering Sea-
In Lord Salisbury'S judgment the contention
OF the United States now rests wholly upon the
ukaSe OF 1921 by :he Emperor Alexander OF
Russia. The United States has at no time
rested its argument solel on the ground men,
nOneG, and TINS government regrets that Lord
Salisbury should have so mis3pprehended the
American position as TO limit its basis of right
IN DerIng Sea 20 the ukaSe of 1921. The United
states has, among other grounds. insisted,
without recarfing TO any of its inherited and
sGperlcr rights in Alaska, that this Government
has a. fun authority for going beyopd the
three-mile line IN case Of proved necessity as
GreaS Britain possesses.
Sample of British Inconsistency.
1.-Two or three instances OF the power Great
Brt2i: exercises beyond the three-mile line
have already been quoted, but have failed thus
Ear to secure comment or explanation from
LORD Salisbury. Another case can be added
which perhaps, Is stu more to the point In
1oes OILY two wears ago, the British Parliament
enaCteu law, the effect Of which IL fully shown
by a nap lrciosed herewith (The map referred
to represents a triangular Sheet of water with
the apex formed Ey three small firtbs or bays
The great body OF water is nameless on lie
map. Across TIE base of the triangle is the
me me oI exclusion, measuring IS miles, ard the
two sides are % miles and 90 miles long, making
the total luclOsed area 2,7G0 square mies)
Far outside life three mile line, the Parlia
ment OF Great Britain has attempted to control
= BODY oi water situated bevond the north
eastern section of Scotland, . TOJ SQUARE miles
IN extent and to direct that certain methods of
hshinG shall not DE used within that great body
OF water under prescribed penalty. 1t vii: be
a.,
British subjects, but against any person.
Quite a Pertinent Question.
"n Great Britain may thus control an AREA
Of l,OO1 square miles of ocean on the coast of
why may not the United States pre-
scribe space around the Pribylof Islands. in
which similar prohibitions may be enforcedP
Ii must not escape observation that the area of
water Outside the ihree-mile line on the coast
CT scotland, " hose control is assumed by Great
Britain, is as Ia rye as would be found inside a
line drawn from Cape Cod to Portland harbor
on the New England coast
Lord Salisbury reasserts his contention that
The words Pacific Orean at the time of the
treaty between Russia and Great Britain did
include Berlng Sea Undoubtedly the Pacific
Ocean lnciudes berlnG Sea in the same sense
that the Atlantic Ocean includes the Gulf of
NJ exico and yet it would be regarded as a very
Inaccurate statement to say that the Mississippi
river flows into the Atlantic Ocean 1 think
LORD Salisbury 1ai's 10 recognize the common
distinction between the Atlantic Ocean and
the waters of the Atlantic. While the Mexican
5ulf IS not part OF the Atlantic Ocean. il
would, am sure, comport with general usage
70 say that 1t belonged to the waters of the
Atlantic, and while Bering Sea is not Technically
part of the Pacific Ocean, it updoubtedly
belongs to Che waters of the Pacific.
No Geographical Dispute.
THE English Channel would not ordinarily
,e understood as included in tile term Atlantic |
ocean. One would not say that Dover or |
'alais is on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
md yet clearly the English Channel belongs to |
he waters of the Atlantic. In point OF fact
therefore,, according to the usage of the world. /