Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-16

islands to see that no more than 1900
seals be taken. This is regarded indis-
pensable, and in lieu of the consul, he
asks that British agent may be spe-
cifcally authorized to reside on the
islands. The demand to take Russia in
he withdraws, but urges that the interdict
apply to all of Bering sea, and urges
that the terms of arbitration be settled
simultaneously.
In reply the president stated that the
limitation of the killing of seals is abso-
lutely within the control of the United
States, as a daily count is made by
sworn officers of this government, could
not OF course, consent to any arrange
ment that implied doubt of its faith or
involved foreign supervision. The
president, however, was quite willing to
agree that England may send to the
islands with the view of collecting facts
involved in the arbitration question.
The suggestions of this reply are then
embodied by the president in PROPOSE
tion covering the agreed points, and the
presidents suggestions as amendatory;
the limit line OF the final agreement be-
ing included, and permission stipulated
that Britain may send suitable persons
to the islands for the purpose named.
Ibis WAS CdDitu, anu bWO Qdyo
later Lord Salisbury replied with
counter proposition, adding to
the agreement for the taking of 1900
seals, these words: "to be taken on the
| shores and islands as food, the skins not
for tax or shipment"
The president in reply declares this to
be an extraordinary proposal, and not
clear one. "This new condition" he
says, ''is entirely inadmissable and in
consistent with the assent already given
by her majesty's government to the pro-
position of the United States in that
behalf. The president is sur
prised that it should now be
suggested that none of the skins of the
seals to be caught should be removed
from the islands, and cannot UNDER
stand how British interests are to be
promoted by allowing them to GO to
waste"
Regarding the British claim that the
interdct shall cover all the Bering sea
shores and islands, the president points
out that the shores and islands
belong to the United States, be-
| ing within the territorial linn
it's, and any mutual policing of
United States territorial waters, it's un-
disputed property, involved an insuper-
able difficulty on our part, and con-
cession which no independent govern
ment could be expected to make.
The president once more formulated
the agreed points and his own views as
indicated on others. This letter bore
date of June 9th, and proved to be the
ultimate form of the agreement, which
was signed today.
1t was cabled to England, and in the
interim before Lord Salisbury's reply,
Pauncefote wrote the state department,
urging tine conclusion of the terms of ar
bitration and supplements Salisbury's
''for tax and shipment" suggestion rela-
tive to the 1900 skins to be taken by the
United States.
On the 10th, Lord Salisbury's final
reply is delivered, in which he accepts
the PRESIDENT form of agreement, al
tering some objections, however, which
are not pressed. He accepts, though,
on condition that the United States will
give assurance in some form that they
viii concur in a reference to a
Joint commission to ascer-
tain what permanent measures are
necessary for the preservation of the fur
seal species in the Northern Pacific
ocean.
On June 18th the state department
responds, agreeing to the appointment
of joint commission, such agreement
to be signed simultaneously with the
convention for arbitration and to be
without prejudice to the questions to be
submitted to the arbitrators. In the
same communication the president
named Monday, June 10Th, as the time
for signing the agreed proposals, and
Pauncefote was notified accordingly.