The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1891-01-06

l think they are completely disproved by
the facts recited in this disl atch, but the
explanatory note is specific contradiction
OF each one Of them.n
Further the secretary says: THE
United States, having the most extended
sea coast Of all the nations of the world,
may be presumed TO have paid serious at
tention 10 the laws and usuage which de-
fine and limit maritime jurisdiction.
While Lord Salisbury's admonitions ore
received in good part by this government,
we will be justified in asking his lordsbip
II the government of Great Brit
ain has uniformly illustrated these
principles by example, or whether
she has established at least one notable
precedent which would justify us in max
ing greater demands upon her maiesty's
government touching Behring sea than
either our necessities or our desires have
ever suggested
The secretary here cites the action OF
Great Britain in excluding vessels from
waters within eight leagues OF ST. Helena
when Napoleon was confined there md
again refers 70 the protection exercised
over the Ceylon pearl fisheries
by Great Britain and says;
II am directed by the president
TO say that on behalf of the United STATES
he is willing 10 adopt the text used in the
act of parliament to exclude ships from
lowering nearer 10 the island of ST. f<l-
ena than eight marine leagues, or he vll
take the example cited by Sir Geoke
Baden-Powell, who 10y permission OF fr
maiesty's government took control over
part Of the ocean GOO miles wide abd
which is to-day authorized by Australian
law. The president will ask the govern
ment Of Great Britain 10 agree to a
distance of 20 marine leagues With
in which no ship shall hover around the
islands of st. Paul and st. George from
the 18th Of May to the 18th of October of
each year. This will prove an effective
mode Of preserving the seal fisheries for
the use Of the civilized world-a mode
which, in view Of Great Britain's assurnp-
ton OF power over the open ocean, she
cannot with consistency decline.
The secretary described the destructive
effects upon seal life Of unrestricted
sealing, and says: "The government Of
Britain has been informed, advised,
warned over and over again OF the evil
effects that would flow from her course Of
action; but against the testimony that
amounts TO demonstration, she has pre-
ferred 10 abide by the personal repre-
sentations from Ottawa, by re-
ports of commissioners who ,x-
amined nothing and heard nothing
except the testimony of those engaged IN
the business against which the Unibed
States earnestly protested. She may POS
sibly be convinced of the damage II she
will send an intelligent commissioning 10
the Prisbylof islands,"
Respecting the British proposition look
ing 10 arbitration, the secretary says
"The judgment OF the president is ttAt
nothing Of Importance would be setti ID
by proving that Great Britain coneedeSto
the jurisdiction Of Russia over the seal
fisheries Of Behring sea. II might as
well be proved that Russia conceded
no jurisdiction TO England over the river
Thames. BY doing nothing in each case
everything is conceded. In neither case
is anything asked of the other. Con
cession,' as used here, means simply
acquiescence in the rightfulness of title,
and that is the only form Of concession
which Russia asked of Great Britain OF
which Britain gave TO Russia.'
The second offer of Lord Salisbury 10
arbitrate amounts simply TO a submission
of the question whether any coun try
has the right TO extend its jur
isdiction more than one marine
league from the shore. No one disputes
that as a rule; but the question as 10
whether there may not be exceptions
whose enforcement does not interfere
with those highways of commerce which
the necessities and usages of the world
have marked out. Great Britain, when
she desired an explanation did not stoI
to consider or regard the inconvenience
TO which the commercial world might be
subjected. Her exception places an OBJ
stacle in the highway between continents
The United States in protecting the seal
fisheries, will not interfere with a single
rule Of commerce on any sea of the globe,
LONDON, Jan.5.-The foreign Office this
evening issued the following commuuica'
ton to the press: "The statements ca.
bled respecting the correspondence on the
Behring sea question between the British
and American governments are un
founded A dispatch was received De.
cember 20 from Blaine. He made pro
posals respecting questions to be
submitted for arbitration. With this
exception, no communication what
ever has been received from
the United States on thi,
subject for the past three weeks and nc
communication has been made 10 the
American government in the same
period.n
The foreign office is a most conserva-
tive department, and the course 4
adopted in regard TO the communication
is startling innovation upon its usua
methods OF procedure and strengthens
the general belief that the crisis is seri
Gus. II is claimed here that the prepare
ton OF sealskns Is entirely British
industry, thousands of persons being en-
gagged in the work in London alone.
Since the publication OF the oreigi
Offices communication the United State
legation and admiralty Office have beer
besieged by persons seeking to obtain in
formation, but all questions prove'