The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-03-12
THIS is PACIFIC.
EnRiHnd's Ofhciai Discussion of the Behr.
Ing Sea Question.

| WAsHINGToN, March 1.-THE Behr-
ing sea negotiations have taken IA favor
| able turn and the governments OF the
4 United states and Great Britain appear
10 have al last reached basis upon
which TO settle thelr diiiit ultles. A com
| munication from Lord Salisbury to Sir
| Julian Pauncefote, the British miaister
| here, under date OF Feb IL, was made
| public by Secretary Blaine last night
In II Lord Salisbury says the dispatch Of
| Mr.. Blaine under date OF the 18th of
December last has been carefully con
sidercd. In further discussing the ques-
tious involved Lord Salisbury says.
The ciaiu OF the United States 10 prevent
| the exercise Of seal fishery By other nations
| IN the BchrinE sea rests now exclusively
| upon the interests which by purchase they
possess iu the ukpsc issued by EmperurAleN-
andcr L. In the year 1s2i which prohibits
foreign vessels from approaching within 100
Italian miles of the coast aud Islands then
belonging 20 Russia tn the Behring sea. It
Is not. as understand, Contended that the
Russian government at the time of the issue
OF this uhasc, possessed any Inherent right
10 enforce such prohi ibiton. or acquired
10y the act OF issuing itAny claims over the
open sea beyond the territorial limit OF three
miles which they would not otherwise have
possessed. But Il II said this propusit Ion
worthless IN Itself acquired validity and
force against the British government be-
cause that government can be- shown 10
have accepted its prov isions Our CUntcn-
tion Is. that not only can IL not be shown
that the government of Great Britain AZ
any time since la2l has admitted the sound
ness 81 the prctcusiOn put forward by that
ukase, but that II can be shown that Il has
categ0ricaily denied IL on more than one
occasion.
Mr. RIaFua dpas n,f daal With tho. ,,rn
tests, but confined himself mainly 10 the
consideration Of the treaties subsequently
made between Great Britain and Russia
and America aud Russia In 1925. and espe-
tially OF that between Russia and Great
Britain This treaty does not contain "a
word 10 signify the acquieseuce Of Great
Britain ia the claim recently put forward by
Russia TO control the water OF the sea for
100 miles from her coast.
II, then, in the ordinary language, tho
Paciac ocean is used a. "A phrase including
the whole sea from the Bering straits To the
Antarctic circle, Il follows that the first ar
ticlo OF the treaty Of ts25 did secure 20
Great Britain in the fullest manner freedom
Or navigation and fishing IA the Bering sea,
In that case no inference however direct or
circuit0u,, can be drawn from any omission
In the language Of that instrument 60 show
that Great Britain acguiesced in tho usurp-
alton which the ukase OF is2l attempted.
Other documents have quoted Sufficiently
20 esta bli-h that she not only did not acqui-
esce Ia IT, bat repudiated It more than once
Ia plain aud unequiY ocAl terms Aud what
right Russia did not herself possess she was
not able "a transmit 90 the United States.
Her majesty government has, Ia view
OF these considerations. uo doubt whatever
that British subjects enjoy the same rights
in the BChriug sea which belongs to them
iu every other portion of the open ocean;
bat II is, nevertheless, matter OF sincere
satisfaction that the president il willing 20
refer 10 arbitration what hc eonceives 20 be
matters which have been under discussion
between the Two governments for the last
four years.
Lord Salisbury then proceeds 10 an
swer the specific questions propounded
by Secretary Blaine, and concluding says.
There h. omission In these questions
which have NO doubt the government or
the president will be very glad to repair:
and that is the reference 10 an arbitrator Of
the question what damages are due to per->
sons who have been injured In case it shall
be determined by him that the action 81 the
I United states In seizing the British vessels
has been without warrant Ia national law
subject 80 these resers ations her ma ies-
ty's government will have greaG satisfac-
tion ia Joining wlsh the United States In
seeking by means of arbitration, an ad-
lustment ~ the international questions
which have 50 ldng formed a.natter ~ con
troTersy between the two goEerpu ents.