Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-08
A Continuation of the CORRESPONDENCE
With Lord Salisbury on Behring
Sea Matters.
The Subject Hinges on the Question Of
Title Acquired in
1926.
Radical Disagreement BetweenBthe
English Premier and the Ameri
can Secretary.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The presi-
dent today transmitted to the house
of representatives further cores
pondence on the subject cf the Behring
sea controversy between the United States
and Great Britain. The message merely
states in response to a resolution of the
house that the president transmits the
correspondence called for.
The cores Dondence consists of letter
from Lord Salisbury to Sir Julien Paunce-
forte of August I'd, and one from Spcre-
tary Blaine to the same minister On Dec.
II, both having copeous appendices made
up of past correspondence on the sub
ject.
Lord Sali8bury's letter is confined
to the discussion of the Russian ukase
and the treaty Of 1885. He argues that
the blame has misinterpreteG Adams
position and declares that history Of the
case shows first that England always
denied Russia claim of maritime jurls-
diction in the Behring sea that the con-
Vention Of 1925 was remuneration of that
claim, and that Behring sea wds not then
known by that name, but part of the
Pacific ocean. He closes with a statement
of the differences that still exist that his
government is ready for an impartial
arbitration bY methods to be agreed upon
In concert with Blaine.
BIaines letter begins with an insistance
upon the correctness of the position as
sumed by the United States He believes
that the controversy turns upon one point,
whether the phrase ''Pacifc ocean" used
in the treaties of 1924 and 1925 in~lude
Behring sea as contended by Great Britain.
If the United States can prove the con-
trary, her case is complete and undeniable.
Therefore. Blaine enters into an exhaustive
argument based on Bancroft's history and
maps to show that Adams and his contem-
p0raries had a distinct understanding
that the phrase Pacific ocean
excluded the waters of Behring
sea then known to all the world as the sea
of Namschatka. The secretary points to
the large wealth of the Russian American
Co, which he says, would have been care
lassly thrown away bv the Russian nObil-
ity in the phrase which merged Behring
sea in the Pacific ocean, He cites the
long years of abstinence from the seal
waters by adventurous people
of the United States and Great
Britain as a presumption of their
lack to enter AS stronger evidence of
his correctness, he cites other points in
old quotations. He speaks of the enor-
nous injury inflicted by the vessels under
the British flag upon the United States
fisheries. and suggested that she send an
intelligent commissioner to the seal is
lands. Again he objects to the form of
proposed arbitration, and says
that it will amount to some
thing if Great Britain consents to
arbitrate the real questions discussed for
the last four years. 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 of Russia s
rights? What are The present rights of
the United States, and if the occurrences
of Great Britain is found necessary, then
what shall be the protected limits and
closed season? Secretary Blaine in con
clusion denies that the United States has
ever claimed Behring sea to be closed
sea, and quotes Minister Phelps in 1888,
where he says the question Is not appli-
cable to the present case.
Ergland's Views.
LONDON, Jan. 5.-The foreign office
this evering issued the following com.
munication to the press:
The statements cabled respecting The
correspondence on the Behcing sea ques-
ton between the British ard American
governments are mfounded A dispatch
was received December so from Mr.. Blaine.
He made proposals respecting the ques
TORS to be submitted Tor arbitration
with the exception that no com
munication whatever has been received
from the United States for thi,
subject in the past three weeks, and nc
communication was made to the Ameri
can government in the same period.
The foreign Office IS Il more conservative
department aud the course it adopted in
regard to communication is Il startling in
novation upon its usual methods of pro
ceedure and strengthens the general be
lief that a crisis is,,serious.
1t is claimed here that the preparations
of seaI-skin is entirely q British industry
$4,000 persons being engaged in thi:
work in London alone. Since The pub
LEGATION of the foreign offices communicat
ed, the United States legation and tn,
admiralty Office have been besieged b,
persons seeking to obtain information, bu