Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-01-06
BLAINE's LETTER

| bLhlNE .
begins with an insistence upon the
correctness of the position assumed
by the United States. He believes
the controversy turns uron one
point, whether the phrase "Pecific
Ocean" used in the treati,s of 1874
and 1873 included BehriDg sea, as
contended BY Great Britain. If the
United States can prove to the con-
trary, her case Is complete and IN
deniabla. Therefore Blaine enters
into an exhaustive argument, based
on Bancroft's history, 10 show that
Adams and contemporaries had q
distinct understanding that the
phrs-- "Pieinc Occan'' excludes
tie waters of Behring sea, then
known TO all the world as the sea
Of kamschatka.
The secretary points to the large
wealth the Russian-American Com.
Dany which he says would have
been carelessly thrown away by the
Russian mobility In the phrase
which merged Behring sea la the
Pacific ocean. He cited the long
ysSra Of aiaslipess.s. svs--s- the s, ri
Na...r- q t:... saven:urur1s people -
the United States and Great Britain
as presumption of their lack of
right .oenter as stronger evidence
OF correctness.
Blaine cites the protocol of the
treaty Of 1924 to show that RuSsia,s
relinqui>hmsnt of jurisdiction ap-
plieti only To- the Territory b-tweeu
the 50ih and Goth urgres-s; also an
eek pla' at0ry note from Russia TO
Adams in 1884, positively excepting
the AleItian Islands aud the coun-
try north Of 50 degrees. 3 minutes
from the concession 10 the United
States OF the right 10 fish and ira lie.
he also cites the action OF Great
Britain in excluding vessels from
water within eight leagues of ST.
Helena, when Napoleon was con-
finesi there, and again refers to the
protection exercised over the Ceylon
pearl fisheries by Great Britaiu.s.y-
ing that he is willing to accept tn. :.
PROVISIONS for the protection OF the
seal fisheries. He speaks Of the en-
ormous injury inflicted by vessels
under the United States fisheries
aud suggested that she, Sc nj AL intel
Iigent commissioner TO the zeal
Islands.
Again he objects to the form of
the proposed arbitration and SAYS it
will smount 10 something tangible
III Great Britain consents to arbi-
trate the real questions discussed for
the last four years, viz, What were
the rights exercised by Russia in
Behring sea? How far were they
conceded by Great Britain? Was
Behring Sea included in the Pacific
Ocean? Did not the United States
acquire all rights? What are the
present rights of the United States.
and If the concurrence Of Great
Britain is found necessary then
what shall lie the protected limits
and the loose season?
Secretary Blaine in confusion de-
mics that the United States ever
claimei Behring Sea 70 lie a closed
sea, and quotes Minister Phelus In
lSsS, where lie says the question Is
not applicable to the present case.
oflNiON OF THE PRESS.
LONDON, Jan. 5.-rhc Times.
commenting ON the Behring Sea
matter, says Sir Henry Elliott has
arrived 1t conclusion on the sub
jet 20 distasteful to Mr.. Blaine that
Congress was not allowed 20 see il.
The Netrs says Blaiue's proposal
to arbitrate seems reasonable
enough. Governments expect to
find way out OF difficulties of this
sort.
The Chronicle says: The LATEST
dispatches show the situation i'm
rroved. If the Americans thought
Blaine contemplated any action
likely to lead to hostilitIes, they
would soon make their sober com
mon sense felt at Washington.
The Telegraph says: Nosrbitrator
would listen for moment to the
Americans claim. The American
statesmen are liable TO exec sive
swag2er when dealing with British
rights, because America has prac-
ticaily no history apart from its
connection or conflicts with Eng
land. Biaine's eloquence, acute
ness snd party craft are absolutely
unrivalled, but lie has rot even
been suspected of having any fixed
principles to guide him while in
power. In fact, the bulk Of the
Americans admire rather than trust
him. The chances are, therefore.
that, although he twists a lions tail
and fiiris with free trade In order to
catch the Irish and Southern votes,
he will lose the Presidency, because
the people will not confide their
destinies TO a mere partisan, how
ever brilliant. There are Amer
leans who are not Irish anu with
them common sense il king.
The Post says: "Englishmen can
afford to treat with Indifference the
tactics of the Blaine wire pulIers.
Hard words break no bones. We
are not unaccustomed TO hear our
selves roundly abused for the benefit
of this or that political party in
but we give the Amer
leans credit that they will not allow
any politician to goad England into
a quarrel which, whatever r. the
issue, will be disastrous to all con-
cerned-"
WHY THE CRISIS Is THOUGHT TO BE
SERIOUS.
LONDON, Jan. 3.-The Foreign
Office this evening issued the follow
NO communication for the DrsSs.