Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-03-11
THE SEAL DISPUTE.
Blaine and Salisbury seem Flap.
ping Together.
A FEW POINTS OF DIFFERENCE LEFT

His Lordship's Latest Contribution to
the Controversy-Most of Blaine's
Propositions for Arbitration Satisfac-
tory, Bat Some Exceptions Noted, and
Changes Suggested Some Things
John Bull Can Not Concede-An I'm
portant Omission.
WASHINGTON CITY. March 1.-The
governments of the United States and
Great Britain appear to have reached
basis upon which to settle the 8ehring
Sea difficulties. A communication dated
London, Feb. q, addressed to Minister
Pauncefote, was made public by Secretary
Blaine last night, in which Lord Sails
bury goes over the last letter of Secretary
Blaine and replies to the latter's argu
ments in eXtenso. He insists that Eng
lands record of protest against Russian
claims in Behring Sea is clear, and also
that the sea was always considered part
OF the Pacific ocean, and cites numerous
authorities in support of his contention,
L says that Blaine's letter materially
narrows the area of controversy
The Mare CIausum Matter.
Lord Salisbury, in this connection, says:
at is now quite clear that the advisers of
the president do not claim Behring sea as
mare clausum, and, indeed, that they
rep udlate that contention in express
terms. Nor do they rely, as JUST fication
for the seizure of the British ships in the
open sea, upon the contention that the in
terests OF the seal fisheries give to the
United States government any right for
that purpose which, according to interna-
tional law, it would not otherwise DOS
sess. Whatever Importance they attach
to the preservation of the fur-seal species
and they justly look on it as ar object
deserving the most serious solicitude-
they do not conceive that it confe-s upon
any maritime power rights over the open
ocean which that power could not assert
on other grounds"
The Propositions of MIR. Blaine.
he then considers the propositions made
by Blaine as bases of arbitration an d saws.
4 should say that as to the first and sec
ond no objection will be offered by her
majesty's government. They are as fol-
lows:
/. What exclusive jurisdiction in the sea
known as Behring sea and what exclusive righ-s
ana exert prior and up to the time of the ces-
sion of Alaska to the United States?
:. How far were these claims of jurisdiction
NJ to the seal fisheries recognized and conceded
10y Great Britain?
} Was the body of water now known as
Behring sea included in the phrase Pacific
ocean as used in the treaty of 1925 between
Great Britain and Russia, and what r ghts Of
any) in the Behring sea were given or conceded
to Great Britain by the said treaty?
An Exception Taken.
But TO the latter part of No 3 Salisbury
takes exception. He says; What rights,
if any. in the Behring sea were given or
conceded to Great Britain by the said
treaty? Great Britain has never suggest
ed that any rights were given to her or
conceded to her by the said treaty. All
that was done was to recognize her natural
right of free navigation and fishing in
that as in all other parts of the Pacific
ocean. Russia did not give these rights
to Great Britain, because they were never
hers to give away"
The Fifth Proposition.
His lordship says Great Britain would
accept the fourth proposition withort
arbitration 1.-The first clause of the fifth
question, what are now the rights of the
United States as to the fur seal Fl sheries
IN the waters of the Behring Sea outside
the ordinary territorial limits?' would be
very properly referred to the decision of
an arbitrator But the subsequent
clause, which assumes that such rights
could have grown out of the ownership of
the breeding islands and the habits of the
seals in resorting thereto involves an as
sumption as to the prescriptions of inter
national law at the present time to which
(Which her majesty's government are
not prepared to accede
An Important Omission.
There is an omission in these questions
which have no doubt the government or
the president will be glad to repair and
that Is the reference to the arbitrator of
the question what damages are due to the
persons who have been injured, in
case it shall be determined by
him that the action of the United
states in Selling British vessels
has been without warrant in il terna-
tional law. Subject to these reservations,
her majesty's government will have
great satisfaction in joining with the
government of the United States in seek
ing by means of arbitration an adjust
ment of the international questions which
have so long formed matter of contro
YerSV bet we, N the two Governments