Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-11
The Bering Sea Question
Will Be Arbitrated.
SolicitOr-General Taft Let the
Cat Out of the Bag.
Attorney General Miller Assisted In
the Operation.
A State Secret Unexpectedly Revealed
to the Public by the Department.
of Justice-Secretary Blaine
Refuses to BIab.
Associated Press Dispatches.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 1O.-The public
was taken into the confidence OF the
diplomatic branch of the government
this afternoon, in the continuation OF
the hearing in the Sayward case, and
the first announcement was made that
the prolonged diplomatic correspond
ence between Secretary Blaine and Lord
Salisbury had resulted in an agreement
by which, with the consent of the sem
ate, the long pending dispute over the
seal fisheries in Bering sea would be
definitely settled. Solicitor General
Taft, who was addressing the court,
made the first intimation that the cor
respondence between the two countries
had reached point OF agreement upon
arbitration. He stopped at this point.
Then Justice Gray desired some more
explicit statement as to whether
an agreement upon arbitration had
been actually reached. The solicitor
general hesitated to reply, and inti-
mated that perhaps he had revealed
more than he, not being cabinet Of
ficer and being authorized to speak only
on legal questions, should have done.
Thereupon Attorney-General Miller
himself interposed, and not only SUBJ
stantiated all the solicitor-general had
said, but went further and amt unced
that the government had effected an
agreement.
This is practically the first announce
ment made as to the progress of the
Bering sea negotiations, since the last
correspondence was made public, show
ing difference of opinion between the
two governments as to the points of ar
bitration. 1t was surprising that the
news should first come out in argument
in court, and the attorney-general was
asked, after adjournment, if he would
throw some light on the subject.
.'It is true. that an agreement has
been reached" he said. Eyes," he
added, "the matter has been settled be-
tween the two governments that SIS,
subject to ratification by the senate.
s'What are thepoipts 81 arbitration ?''
ssI cannot say more than l said In
court. Why don't you go to the state
Department."
eyes. you can state as fact, that an
agreement has been concluded"
Solicitor-G General Taft was next seen,
but would only confirm what the attor-
ney-general had said. SIN the last cor
respondence, you know" he said,
"there was simply difference between
the two governments as to the points at
arbitration. Well, the correspondence
since then has resulted in treaty
which now only needs to be ratified by
the senate"
The reporter suggested that it was
some thing unusual to hear the an
nouncement of such important news in
an argument in court.
'But it is fact,' was the reply.
Secretary Blaine positively declined
to make any statement touching the
matter.
The inference drawn from the devel-
opments today (including the statement
made by the attorney general to repre-
sentative of the Associated Press, as
shown above). is that the president will
submit to the senate an agreement in
the nature OF treaty between the
United States and Great Britain by
which the parties bind themselves to
accept final and conclusive definition
to be given by the arbtrators, of the
exact rights of the United States in Ber-
ing sea, as we'll as to pay any awards OF
damages suffered by the nation declared
to have had true contention.
1t is also presumed that arbitrators
have been selected, but none of the Off
cials seen would discuss the details Of
the agreement, doubtless for the reason
that it has to be submitted to the SEN
ate for ratification, and therefore comes
under the executive session rules of the
senate, which requires secrecy to be OBJ
served.
When Taft finished his argument to-
day, Mr.. Choate, on behalf OF Great
Britain, addressed the court.