The morning call., 1891-06-02
FOR The SEALS.
The Two Governments Will
Protect Them.
The Negotiations With England Nearly
Perfected.
The House Of Commons Discusses the
Question and Passes Bill
Against the POaCherS.
Epeeial to THE MORNING CALI

from Secretary Blaine to Sir Julian Pauace-
fote, May 4th. In it he refers to his prepo-
sition after the adjournment of Congress for
the modus Yivendi under which no Canadian
sealer should be allowed to come within
certain number of miles of the Pribylof
Islands. Lord Salisbury fearing this
might provoke a conflict, the President
concluded to propose the suspension of seal
ing by both nations during the arbitration,
or during the season of 1891. Mr.. Blaine re-
fers to tie Presidents anxiety to receive an
answer before leaving for his Western tour,
which answer he did not get. The silence
of Lord Salisbury seemed to imply that he
would not restrain the Canadian sealer3
from entering the Behring Sea, and as all
the intelligence from British Columbia
showed that the sealers were getting ready to
sail in large numbers, the President found
he could not with Justice prevent the lessees
from taking seals on the Pribyloff Islands.
The President, therefore, instructed the
Secretary of the Treasury to issue to the
lesSees the privilege Of taking the maximum
number of sixty thousand seals during the
special agent to limit the killing to as small
a number as the condition of the herd might
demand. On the 22d of April Mr.. Blaine
received notice from Pauncefote that Lord
Salisbury was ready to agree to the PROPOSE
ton, and Mr. Blaine telegraphed it to the
President.
FOOD FOR THE NATIVES.
The latter replied on April Goth, express
n 81 III "a IN
inform PauncefOte that some seals must I've
killed by the natives for food; that the
lessees are bound under their lease from the
Government to feed and care for the ma
tiyeS, etc. Pauncefote replied on April 9th
that he did not agree with the Presidents
suggestion and EXPRESSED the belief
that Salisbury would not accept
it; that the killing of seals must
be cut off absolutely Mr.. Blaine
thereupun submitted TO Pauncefote a state
ment Of exactly what terms in regard to
caring for the natives OF Alaska were im-
posed upon the North American Company
by their lease; in short, the means OF iiv-
ing, facilities for education, care Of health,
religious teaching, training OF old and
young in community OF over 800 persons
are imposed upon tile company by specific
article of the lease. If the company should
as Pau cef0te says that Salisbury requests,
be deprived OF all privilege OF taking seals,
they certainly could not be compelled To min
ister to the wants OF these people for the en-
tire year. 1t IteYidently requires a considerable
sum of money to furnish all the requisite
supplies, which must be carried four thou
sand miles on specially chartered steamer
II the leSSecs are not to be allowed pay
ment in any form they will naturally de-
cline the expense.
No appropriation has been made by Con-
greSS for this purpose. and the President
cannot leave these worthy aud innocent
people to the hazard Of starvation, even 10
secure any form Of agreement with Lord
Salisbury touching seal life. Seal life may
be valuable, but the first duty of the Gov
ernment IF the United States is
to protect human life. In this
exgency the President asks that Lord Sails
bury c0ncede to the North American Com
pany the right To take a sufficient number
Of seals To Tec0mpense them for their out
lay. and after full consideration the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury has fixed the maximum
at seven thousand five hundred to be killed
that no females he killed so that the pro-
ductiye capacity OF the herd be not
diminished Secretary Blaine then Tenews
the proposition that the Governments
agree to a suspension of the sealing subject
TO the above pr0viso, saying that the Presi-
dent believes that the propositions are calcu-
lated TO produce results at once fair and
honorable to both Governments. and thus
lead to the permanent adjustment Of the con-
troversy, which already has been too long
left at issue.
THE BRITISH MINISTER'S REPLY.
On May 9th Sir Julian PauneefOte re-
piled to Mr.. Blaine, stating he had for
warded to Lord Salisbury a copy Of the Sec
retaTy's note and had cabled his LOrdship
the precise terms of the proposal. The
British Minister regrets to find some mis-
conception as regards the complaint Of de-
lay in acQuainting Lord Salisbury with MIR.
Rlaia iatASg al TOR ri TNa 1AVG
proposal, for the cessation Of the killing,
he says, was originally made to him YER
bally by MT. Blaine, and he expressed some
reluctance at sending any more proposals to
Lord Salisbury while the latter's dispatch
of February 2lst last, submitting the arbi-
tTaliUn proposals, remained uuanS weTed, he
suggested 1T would be more satisfactory
if this new proposal, the cessation of
killing. we're made cOncurrently with
NJ. Blaiue'S reply, ana he understood Mr..
Blaine to assent to that suggestion. 1t Mr..
Blaine had informed him that the PTeSi-
dent, for any reason, desired that this alter
native proposal should be telegraphed to
Lord Salisbury he need hardly say he
should have at once complied with his
wishes. But he cannot call to mind that
the Presidents name was ever mentioned
at that talk, which was merely converse
uonal exchange OF views. No appreci-
able loss of time occurred, however,
u
proposal by mail and received a Or ompt an
sWeT by telegraph, which enabled him to
inform Secretary Blaine, April Goth, that
his Lordship was disposed TO cOnsi der the
proposal favorably "At the inter view at
your residence on the 23I of A pril,"
satisfaction at Lord Salisbury's reply
and stated that before taking further
steps, you desired to communicate by tele-
graph with the President. At further in
teryiew at your residence on the 9th. you
Informed me that the President desired that
the modus vivend should contain the reser-
walton of the right TO Kill certain number
OF seals for the support OF the natives, etc.
a. first sight this reservation caused me some
disappointment. 1t certainly appeared open
TO exception, as detTactlDg from the principle
of equity, which was the feature of the
original proposal. | was concerned at your
stating that ii was never the intention of the
President or yourself that the modus
vlyendi should be put in force until
the arbitration terms were settled.
This, l feared, would prevent the timely
application of the modus vivendi and |
notice with satisfaction that no such cOndi-
tion is affixed to your present proposal,
although the reservation as to the killing of
a limited number of seals is maintained.
am glad TO think there is yet time to carry
out Tor this season any arrangement which
may be promptly agreed to.
THE UNwARRANTED DELAY.
On May Goth acting Secretary Adee
addressed a personal note TO the British
Minister, requesting a reply from her Maj
esty'S Government. On May ooh he sent
another note to the same effect, saying that
the President was anxious for an early re-
spohse. The situation" he adds. "calls
for prompt action.
"A large feet of Canadian sealers has been
for some weeks or months on the seas.
They are daily going further out of reach.
The reyenue-cutterS have awaited definite
orders. Their presence is urgently needed
in the Behring Sea, aud any further delay
tends to defeat the very purpose for
which the agreement is sought. 1t is
quite incompatible with fairness aud
justice to our citizens that this
should be permitted to continue. Ample
opportunity has been afforded her Majesty's
Government to bring this condition to a
close by an effective agreement. but the re-