Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-03-14
The Behring Sea Trouble is Soon
Coming TO a Focus it
is Thought.
Sir Julian Pauneefoot is Obliged TO
Come or From the High
Horse
He Says the United States Does Not
Claim the Behring Sea
Mare ClauSum.

WASHINGTON, March Ii. The Behring
sea negotiations have taken Il favorable
turn and the governments of the United
States and Great Britain appear to have
at last reached q basis upon which 10 set
tie their difficulties. A communication
from Lord Salisbury TO Sir Julian Paunee-
fote British minister here under date of
Feb. IL, was made public by
Secretary Blaine tonight. In it,
lord Salisbury says the di,patch of Mr..
Blaine under date of 18th December last
has been carefully considered 10 is now
clear, he adds that the advisors of the
president do not claim Behring sea, as
Mare Clausum, and, indeed, that they
repudiate that contention in express terms
Nor do they rely as a Justification for the
seizure of British ships in open sea upon
the contention that the interest of
seal fisheries gave TO the United
States government any right TO.
that purpose, which according
to international law. il would not other
wise possess. Whatever importance they
attach to the preservation of fur, seal
species, and they justly look on it as an
object deserving the most serious solicit
tude where thel do not conceive that il
conters upon any maritime powers the
rights over the open ocean which that
power could not assert on other grounds
TIE claim of the United States to
prevent the exercise of seal fishery
10y other nations in Beh-
ring sea rests now exclusively
upon the interest which by purchase th.y
possess in a ukase issued by the emperor
A lt,.#st,l.t / -,
hibits foreign vessels from approaching
within 100 Italian miles of the coast and
an island, then belonging TO Russia in
Behring sea. II is not understood to be
commended that the Russian government,
at The time of the issue OF this ukase
possessed inherent right TO enforce such
a prohibition, or acquired by the act Of
issuing it, any claims over the sea beyond
the territory limit of three miles, which
they would not otherwise have possessed
But it is said this proposition, worthless
in itself acquired validity and force
against the British government, be
cause that government can be shown
TO have accepted It's provisions,
Our contention is, that not only can 1t be
shown that the government of grea: Brit
ain, at any time since 1921 has admitted
the soundness of the preteuslon put for
ward 10y that Ukase, but that IT can be
shown II has categorically denied It on
more than one occasion.
To sustain this contention Lord Sails
bury quotes from letter of Jan. 1922
from Lord Londonderry 10 Count Lieyen,
Russian ambassador in London, aud also
from a note by The Duke of Wellington
-, An9g.Ir,l. 10 1900
TO admit Russjd's claim Continuing
Lord Salisbury says Mr.. Blaine
does not deal with these protests,
but confined himself mainly to the con
sideration of treaties subseq emily
made between Great Br tain and Russia
ard America and Russia in 1925; and
especially of that of Russia and Great
Britain, This treaty does not contain a
word to signify the acquiesenCe Of Great
Britain in the claim recently put forward
by Russia, 10 control the waters Of the
sea for 100 miles from her coast
81 understand Mr.. Blaines argument to
be that if Great Britain intended to pro-
test against the claim of Russia to exclude
ships for 100 miles from her coast in Beh-
ring sea, she would have taken the oppor-
tunity of doing so but that in coniining
herself to stipulations in favor OF
full liberty of navigation and fishing
in any part of the ocean, commonly called
the Pacific ocean, she, by implication, re-.
nounced any claim that could arise out of
the same set of circumstances IN regard 70
any seal that was not part Of the Pacific
ocean, Mr.. Blaine goes on to
contend that the phrase Pacific
ocean, did not and does not
include Behring sea, even if this latter
contention were correct | should earn
esty demur to the conclusion that our in.
hersnt right to free passage and free fish
ing over vast ocean, could be effect.
lively renowned by reticence IN OMISSION
But am not prepared to admit the justice
Of Mr.. Blaines contention that words
"Pacifc ocean" did not include Bebring
sea. Mr. Blaine adduces a long l-t Of
maps in which the designation is distinct
from that OF the Pacific ocean Is given
to Behring sea, rather Behring sea, or sea
of Kamschatka Argument will hardly
have any force unless 1t is applicable with
eIual truth to all other oceans Of the
world.
MINISTER SMITH DEAD.