The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-03-11
rnE HERRING SEA p1spnrE.
Questions which England is wiiiin
to Submit to Arbitration.

Questions which England Is willing
to Submit to Arbitration.
Secretary Blaine has received dispatch
from Lord Salisbury accepting, in modi-
fed way, the offer made by this Govern
ment to submit the Bering Sea dispute to
arbitration. Lord Salisbury makes a gem
eral review of the whole subject, and says
that Her Majesty's Government has no
doubt whatever that British subjects en-
Joy the same rights in Bering Sea which
belong to them in every other portion OF
the open ocean, bnt that IL is nevertheless
matter of sincere satisfaction that the
President is willing to refer to arbitration
what he conceded to be matters which
have been under discussion between the
two Governments for the last four years."
He also says that from Mr.. Blainc's last
dispatch il is now clear that the advisers
Of the President do not claim Berlng Sea
as a mare cldus,tni, but repudiate that con-
tention IN express terms. The questions
which Lord Salisbury is willing TO submit
to arbitration are as follows:
what exclusive jurisdiction in the
Bering Sea and what exclusive rights in
the seal fisheries therein did Russia assert
and exercise prior and up to the time of
the cession of Alaska to the United
States ?'
How far were these claims of jursdic-
ton as to the eseal fisheries recognized and
conceded by Great Britain 4"
Ibid all the rightsof Russia to juris-
diction and to the seal fisheries in Bering
Sea east of the water boundary, in the
treaty between the United States of the
30th of March, 1867, pass unimpaired TO
the United States under that treaty 2" lOf
this last question Lord Salisbury says IL is
hardly worth referring to M arbitrator.
as Great Britain is prepared TO accept it
without disputed
What are now the rights OF the
United States as to the fur seal frheries
in the waters of the Bering Sea outside of
the ordinary territorial limits?"
"Was the body of water now known as
the Bering Sea included in the phrase
Pacific Ocean, as used in the. treaty Of
1926 between Great Britain and Russian"
In regard to the establishment of q
closed season in seal fishing Lord Sails
bury says that that would perhaps more
| iitly form the substance of q separate con.
| ference Her Majesty's Government,
says Lord Salisbury, "has no objection to
refer the general question Of close time
| to arbitration or to ascertain by that
| means how far the enactment of such a
| provision Is necessary for the preservation
| Of the seal specie; but any such reference
| ought not to contain words appearing to
contribute special and abnormal rights in
the matter to the United States"
In the questions submitted to Great
| Britain as basis of arbitration by the
Government Lord Salisbury says there is
an omission which II have-no doubt the
| Government or the President will he glad
| to repair, and that is the reference to the
arbitrator of the question, What damages
are due to the persons who have been in
| jured, in case it shall be determined by
him that the action of the United States
in seizing British vessels has been without
| warrant in international law. Subject to
these reservations, her Maiesty's Govern
| ment will have great satisfaction in join
| ing with the Government of the United
States in seeking by means of arbitration
| an adjustment of the information ques-
tions which have so long formed matter
Of controversy between the two Govern
| ments.n