Evening journal., 1891-04-22
RUSSIA Is NOT WITH US.
She'll Not Help Us Save the
Seals.
HEB VIEWS on THE BIG DISPUTE.

Like Secretary Blaine She Does Not Be
lieve in the Closed Sea Idea-rhe oues-
tIon May re Settled by Taking England
Into the Protection Scheme.
NEW YORK, April 22.-The Herald's St
Petersburg special cable dispatch says:
Secretary Blaine should make no mistake
about the position of Russia in the coming
arbitration Of the Behring sea question.
know the views Of the government, al
though It would not be fair to hold it re-
sponsible for my words. In the first place
there is nothing on record here TO show
that Russia intended to convey to the
United States any special rights in the
open waters Of Behring sea. The sale of
Alaska was the result Of private negotia-
lions between Baron Edward de Stoecki
and Secretary of State Seward
Russin Left 1t out.
Russia purposely left the question Of
special jurisdiction. or special privileges
in the sea, ont OF the bargain. The whole
matter, 70 far as / can ascertain, was in
tentionally put aside and any attempt 20
draw Russia out of this vague and reserved
position would have been evaded or re-
sisted
Her Position Unsuccessful
The Russian government had met with
little success In its efforts to establish
either exclusive OF partial control over
Behring sea- The question had become
embarrassing, and the ministry was not
anxious TO incorporate or fix such trouble
some issue ia a treaty Of sale.
The more Mr.. Blaine searches for evil
denoe on this point the more he will be
convinced that when Alaska was sold to
the United States the late car and his adj
visers had ceased to regard the claim TO
control over the sea IA an important one.
AZ this moment Russia believes that it is
impossible to maintain the ''closed sea"
position Mr. Blaine, has, of course, al
ready abandoned that claim in the most
explicit language.
Can We Protect the Seals?
But now comes most delicate point
the right of the United States TO protect
the seals while they are passing through
the high sea from one feeding ground to
another. Russia has the same rights as
the United States on her own side of the
sea
The moral effect OF decision in the con
troversy between the United States and
Great Britain will be TO some extent bind
ing on Russia, The Russian view of the
matter is therefore extremely important.
The Russian View.
may say that while Russia regards the
right Of protecting the seals, even on the
high seas, as inherent in the nation to
which the rookeries belong, this right is so
modified by the Internationally of all high
sens and by the contiguity Of British juris-
diction, that the only way to close the
| great controversy is TO acknowledge linn
tied consultative right on the part Of Great
| Britain and then provide for the proteo
ton Of the seals and the seal industry by
/ agreement between the United States
| Russia and Great Britain. This Is the Rus
sian view. All other propositions are 10
garded as Enthusiastically.
Future Trade Routes.
Besides, it must not be forgotten tina
| the great Siberian railway, which is t,
reach Vladivostock, will, within a genera
tion, lead to union OF Alaska and Siberil
| by rail at Behring straits The Russians
/ are not blind to the fact that there may b
/ important commercial routes across thu
/ disputed waters in the future, and it is nee
essaIy TO settle all questions Of jurisdic
ton now As for the present arbitration
have reason TO believe that Russia woul,
be satisfied with the king of Sweden, or
better STILL the president OF the Swiss con
| federation