The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-06-13

uSuery qu0sJlOu. Il ne uISD COJulnuulcd-
tion is from Secretary Blaine to Sir
Julian Pauncefote. 1t reads 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 the instructions Of the president, pro,
posed to you that modus vivendi be agreed
upon touching the seal fisheries, pending the
result Of arbitration Of the question ut issue be
tween the two governments. The presidents
first proposal which submitted to you, was
that no Canadian sealer should be allowed to
come within certain number OF miles OF Priby-
Ion Islands.
It was, however, the conclusion OF the presi.
dent, after reading Lord Salisbury's dispatch OF
February 81, that this modus vivendi mtghtpos
6ibly provoke conflict in the Bering sea, and 10
avoid that result he instructed me TO propose
that sealing, both on land and sea, should be
suspended by both nations during the progress
OF arbitration, or during the sealing season OF
1891. On both occasions 1t was 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 re-
eponse from Lord Salisbury TO his second prop
osition that ventured TO suggest that you re.
quest an answer by cable, If practicable. Espe
cially was the president anxious to receive an
answer (Which he trusted would be favorable)
before he should set out on his tour to the Pa.
cific states He left washington on the night
of April 10 without having heard q word from
your government. 1t was then full month
after he had instructed me to open negotiations
on the question and the only probable inference
was that Lord Salisbury would not agree to his
proposal
seemed not improbable, that he would not re-
strain the Canadian seaers from entering Ber.
ing sea, and as all intelligence from British
Columbia showed that the British sealer5 were
getting ready to sail In large numbers, the
president found that he could not with justice
prevent the lessees from taking seals on the
Pribyloff island. The president therefore, in
structed the secretary of the treasury, who has
official charge of the subject to issue to the les
sees the privilege of killing on the PribyloG
islands 10
Der of sixty thousand (60,0O0) seals subject
however, to the absolute discretion and power
OF an agent appointed by the secretary of The
treasury, to limit the killing to as small NUN
ber as the condition OF the herd might, IN his
opinion, demand.
On the 22d Of April eight days after the
president had left Washington, you notified
me when was absent from the capital that
LORD Salisbury was ready to agree chat all
sealing should be suspended, pending the re.
suit o. arbitration On the 23d OF April tele.
graphed Lord Salisbury's proposition to the
rest. He replied April 2b. expressing great
satisfaction with Lord Salisbury's nefsage but
instructing me to inform you that "some seals
must bo killed by the natives for food; that the
lessees are bound under their lease from the
government to feed and care for tho natives,
making 1t necessary to send ship to the Pri-
bylof islandi each season at their expense"
and for this service very expensive one, the
"lessees should find their compensation in TAX
ing moderate number OF seals under the
leaSe.h
The president expressed his belief that this
allowance would be readily agreed to by Lord
Salisbury because the necessity is absolute.
You will remember that when communi
Gated this proposition frorl tine president to you
on the evening of Monday, April 81 you did not
agree with the presidents suggestion. On the
contrary, you expressed yourself as confident
that Lord Salisbury would not accept it; that
in your judgment the killing of seals must be
cut OF absolutely on the land and in the water
and that 1t could not be stopped on either un-
less stopped on both.
The president instructS me to propose to
Lord Salibury that he concede to the North
n
ent number of seals and no more than sufficient
to recompense them for their outlay in taking
care of the natives; and that in the phrase Of
the president all commercial killing of seals
be prohibited pending the result OF arbitra-
tion." The secretary Of the treasury has the
right to fix the number necessary to the end
desired. After full consideration, he has linn
tied the number to seven thousand five hundred
(7,5OO) to be killed by the company to repay
them for the outlay demanded for the support
of the 800 people on the Pribylof islands, He
further directs that no females be killed, and
that thus the productive capacity of the herd
shall not in the slightest degree be impaired.
This point being fixed and agreed to, the pro-
posed arrangement between the two countries
would be as follows: The government Of the
United States limits the number of seals TO be
killed on the islands, for purposes just de-
scribed, to seven thousand five hundred 7,5OO).
The government of the United States guaran-
tees that no seals shall be killed in the open
waters Of Bering sea by any person on any yes
sci sailing undor the American fig or by any
citizen sailing under any other flag.
The government OF Great Britain guarantees
that no seals shall be killed in the open waters
of the Bering sea by any person on any vessel
sailing under the British flag, and that no Brit
ish subject shall engage in killing seals for the
time agreed upon on any vessel sailing under
These probabilities shall continue until the
first day OF May 1892 within which time the
arbitrators shall render final award or awards
TO both governments.
These several propositions are submitted fol
the consideration of Lord Salisbury. The
president believes that they are calculated tc
\ n honorable
both governments and thus lead to the perman
ent adjustment of controversy which ha:
honor to be- sir. with the highest consideration
your ooedient servant, JAMES G. BLAINE.
To this Sir Julian responded as follows:
BRITISH LEGATION, I
WASHINGTON, May D, 1891.
SIR-I have the honor to acknowledge the re
ceipt of your note of yesterday in which yol
have formulated for the consideration OF thu
Marquis of Salisbury detailed proposals for
>'modus vivendP' during the approaching fish
cry season in Ber1ng sea on the principle OF
cessation of seal killing, both at sea and o.
land, an arrangement to which, us l informed
YOU in my note OF the 2jth ultlmo his lordShi
was disposed to give hisfavorable consideration
have forwapded to Lord Salisbury by thi
days mail copy of your note, and have tele
graphed TO his iordship the precise terms OF tn
proposal whichit concludes. much regret Z
find that misconception has arisen as regard
your complaint OF delay on my part in acquaint
ing Lord Salisbury with your second alterna
tive proposal for cessation OF seal killing a
me verbally
II YOU had informed me that the president 70
any reason desired that this alternative pro
posal should be telegraphed to Lord Salisbur
l need hardly say that should have compile
at once With the Wishes But cannot call I
mind that the presidents name was ever mer
toned at our interview which you correctly d(
scribe as "a conversational exchange of views.
Fortunately, however no appreciable loss {
time occurred. acquainted Lord Salisbur
with your alternative proposal by the mail {
the 9TH OF April Ga few days only after II wa
made) and received a prompt answer by tell
graph which enabled me TO inform you by 10
note OF April ~ that his lordship was dispose
10 consider the proposal favorably
At an interview at your own residence on tn
28d OF April you expressed your satisfaction @
Lord Salsburys reply and you stated that b'
fore taking any further steps you desired I
communicate by telegraph with tho presiden
AT further interview at your residence o
the 27th you informed me that the president d'
sired that the modus vvendi should contai
reservation OF the right 10 kill certain nun
Der of seals for the support OF the natives OF I'll
Pribylof islands. Az first sight this reserv'
tion caused me some disappointment IL ce
tainly appeared 10 me open to exception rs d
traoting from the principle OF equality whic
was feature OF the original proposal But
was more concerned at your stating that
never was the intention OF the president or
yourself that the "modus vivendi" should |
put in force until the terms OF arbitration ha
been settled.
notice with satisfaction that no such co
dltion is afnxed TO your present proposal q
though the reservation us TO tho killing OF
limited number OF seals on the Islands
maintained.
lam glad to think that there is yet time
carry out for this fishery season any nrrdng
ment which may promptly be agreed TO and
hope that the above explanation may romo'
the impression you appesr TO have formed th
there has be,n any delay on my part in G
pediating the consideration OF the ''rod
" vendi' which you have proposed. have 81