The record-union., 1891-11-12
BLAINE MUM.
He VIII Not Talk on the Behring Sc:
Controversy.

lie VIII Not Talk on the Behring Sea
Controversy.
WASHINGTON, Nov. H. Secretary
Blaine positively declined to make any
statement touching the Behring Sea con-
troyersy, which it was stated during the
argument in the Sayward case Yesterday
had been determined to be left to arbitra-
ton. The inference drawn from the de-
velopments yesterday, including a state
ment by the Attorney General to the
representative of the Associated Press, is
that the President viii submit to the SEN
ate an agreement in the nature of treaty
between the United States and Great
Britain, by which the two parties bind
themselves to accept as final and conclu-
slve the definition to be given by the
afbltratOrS of the exact rights of the
United States in the Behring Sea, as well
as TO pay any awards of damages suffered
by the nation declared to have had the
true contention. 1t is also presumed that
the arbltrators have been selected, but
none Of the officials seen would discuss
the details of the agreement, doubtless
for the reason it has to be submitted to
the Senate for ratification, and therefore
comes under the executive session rules
of the Senate, which require secrecy to be
observed.
Nv SlOoSSO my IISlS 1dll6u 10 6liClG
any further information respecting the
details of the agreement reached by the
United States and Great Britain to sub
nit the Behring Sea case to arbitration.
LONDON, Nov. 11.-Commenting on the
Behring Sea matter, the NeaUs says: Both
parties may be congratulated and it NAV
fairly be hoped that no party considera-
tons Will trouble the passage of the
agreement through the Senate, or inter
fprp with n npacpful and bOnOTo hi % SattIa-
ment.
WASHINGTON, Nov. lit is learned
tonight that the treaty has not vet re-
celved the signatures of the representa-
tives of the United States and Great Brit
ain, for, although the points TO be sub
mitted to arbitration have been agreed
upon, the method of arbitration is still a
| matter open to discussion. This must be
arranged and included in the terms of the
treaty. 1t is believed by persons in
authority that this remaining point will
be adjusted before the meeting of the
Senate, and that the arbitrators will have
defined the exact rights of the United
States and Great Britain in Behring Sea
before the opening of the next sealing
| season.
Regarding the decision of the Supreme
Court in the Sayward case, it car be
stated that the Administration is await
ing the outcome with equanimity. If
the court denies the British contentious
the result will be very gratifying, but if
it should take the other course and find
the seizure of the vessel to have been il
legal, the Administration has the salts
faction OF pointing to the fact that it is in
no wise responsible for the seizure of the
Sayward which was made by the orders
of its predecessors.
THE CASES IN COURT.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE legal con-
test begun by counsel for Great Britain to
have declared illegal the seizures of seal
ing vessels in Behring Sea was contin-
ued in the United States Supreme Court
to-day, but the case of the American
schooner Sylvia Handy, seized in 1887 ,for
seal poaching, was argued. The case is
similar in nearly all its phases to the
celebrated Sayward case, except that the
vessel is American and not Canadian.
The case comes here on an appeal from
the California courts, and not on petit
ton for writ Of prohibition as in the
Sayward case, but the legal aspect Is the
same.