New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-02
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE BEHRING SEA QUESTION
MORE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE
TWO GOVERNMENTS.

TENCE FOR THE NATIVES
"A PROMPT AGREE
MENT EXPECTED.
IsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TaIBUsGJ
Washington. June lon receipt of the news
that all the latest official correspondence On the
Behring Sea dispute had been issued In the form
Of Blue Book by the British Foreign Once
the State Department to-day made public the let
ters which have been exchanged between the two
Governments since early in April The CORE
spondence. which is given in detail below. covers.
generally speaking. the progress Of the effort to
arrange modus viyendi for the approaching seal
ing season. pending arbitration Of the whole aues-
tion of the rights of this country and Of Great
Britain In Behring Sea- AS has been pointed out
repeatedly In these dispatches. the original offer
of closed season came from the State Depart
ment here. and the delay in accepting the offer
and in arranging for an efectual enforcement OF
the prohibition to take seal this summer has been
due solely to Lord Salisbury's procrastinating
policy
In the first letter of those published, refer
ence is made to the offer to LORD Salisbury, already
framed under the Presidents direction. to suspend
entirely the taking of seals, even on the Seal
Islands, by American citizens, in return for the
suppression by the British authorities of Canadian
poaching. The offer is then formally modified
so as to allow the taking Of 1900 male seals on
the two islands of St Paul and st. George, not
for commercial purposes, but for the actual sub
sistence Of the natives, who otherwise would
have to be supported gratuitOusly for year by
the North American Sealing Company. AS the
correspondence shows, this reasonable and moderate
proposition was pocketed for nearly month by
Lord Salisbury, from whom the State Depart
ment failed, although making repeated applica-
tions, to obtain any sort Of reply.
The British Premier's answer Sir Julian Paunce-
fote says, in the letter which closes the corre-
spondence, was expected to reach Washington
at any moment; its contents, however, were
finally anticipated by the introduction in theliouse
of Commons of the pending Behring Sea bill.
This bill Judged in the light of the letters now
pubIished, commits Lord Salisbury to the ac-
oeptance of the American proposition for closed
season. It's introduction is at least the pre-
liminary step toward an amicabe and satisfac-
tory adjustment of the differences between the
two countries, and its passage through Parlia-
ment will make prompt agreement as TO modus
vivendi for the present sealing season almost a
certainty.
Though the correspondence contains no actual
news about the situation in Behrin9 Sea, II Will
serve to expose many mistaken theories which
have been maintained about the pending negotia-
tions for a closed season. 1t has been repeatedly
asserted in anti-Administration newspapers thai
the real author of the closed season proposition
was Lord Salisbury, and that the delay in reach
ing an agreement as to the modus vivendi was
chargeabe solely to the hesitation and indifference
of the Administration. This theory, which has
been confidently urged even up to within day
or two, is shown by the letters themselves to be
the exact reverse of the truth. Indeed, its advo-
Gates, who have been assailing the Administration
as nsincere in its efforts to secure closed sea-
son, and praising Lord Salisbury as the only real
friend of the seal species, now find absolutely no
ground left for them to stand upon.
MR. BLAINE TO SIR JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.
The additional correspondence begins with a
note from Secretary Blaine to the British Minister
as follows:
Department Of State. Washington, May 4, 1891
sir: During the month OF March last few days
after the adjournment Of Congress, acting under tho
instructions of the President proposed to you that
modus vvendi be agreed upon touching the seal fish
cries. pending the result of arbitration Of the question
between the two Governments. The Presidents hrse
proposal which | submitted TO you that
Canadian sealer should be allowed to come within
certain number of miles of the Pribylof Islands.
II was however, the conclusion OF the President.
after reading Lord Saisburys dispatch Of February 81.
that this modus Hvendi might possibly provoke con-
nict in the Behring Sea- and to avoid that result he
instructed TO propose that sealing both on land and
sea- should be suspended by both nations during the
progress OF arbitration. during the season Of 1891.
On both occasions it a conversational exchange Of
Views, the first In my Office at the state Department.
the second at my residence.
The President was so desiroUs Of prompt response
from Lord Salisbury to his second proposition that
ventured to suggest that you request an answer by
cable, If practicable. Especially was the President
anxious TO receive answer (Which he trusted would
favorable before he should set ont on his tour TO
the Pacific States He left Washington on the night OF
April l3 without having heard word from your Gov
ernment 1t was then full month after he had in
structed open negotiations on the question: ana
the only probable inference that Lord Salisbury
would not agree 10 this proposal.
The silence Of Lord salisbury implied, as seemed not
that he would not restrain the Canadian
sealers from entering Behring Sea, and all intei
gence from British Columbia showed that the sealers
getting ready to sail in large numbers. the Pres
dent found that could not with justice prevent tho
essees from taking seals the Prbylof Islands. Tho
President therefore, Instructed the Secretary Of tho
Treasury who has Official charge OF the subject to IS
to the lessees the privilege Of killing on the Prtby-
off Islands the coming the maximum number Of
sixty thousand 6OOo0 seals subject however to the
absolute discretion and power OF an agent, appointed
BY the Secretary OF the Treasury to limit the killing
10 us small number the condition OF the herd
might, I'm his opinion. demand
On the 22d OF April eight days after the Presidents
had left Washington, you notified me, when was alb
,ent from the Capital. that Lord Salisbury was ready
10 agree that all ealng should be suspended. pending
he result Of arbitration. on the 23d Of April tele-
-raphed Lord sasbury's proposition to the President
He replied April 25 expressing great satisfaction with
ord salisburys message but instructed me to inform
you that seals must be killed by the natives for
ood that the essees bound under their lease nom
he Government to feed and care for the natives,
making il necessary TO send ship 10 the Pribylon
Stands each at their expense and that for ts
ervlce a very expensive One the lessees should find
heir compensation In taking moderate number Of
eas under the lease" The President expressed his
,ele this allowance would be readily agreed 10 by
ord salisbury because the necessity Is absolute.
You will remember that when / communicated this
proposition from the President you the evening