Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-06-04
THE SEAL DISPUTE.
More of the Negotiations in the
Behring Sea Matter.
Extracts from Correspondence Be-
tween the State Department and
Minister Pauncefote.
THE NEED OF URGENCY.


made public as a result of its disclosure
in London.
The additional correspondence be-
gins with note from Secretary Blaine
to the British minister under date of
May 4, in which he reminds him that
during March he (Blainel had proposed
that modus vivendi be agreed upon
touching the seal fisheries pending the
result of arbitration of the question be-
tween the two governments. Mr..
Blaine writes:
THE presidents first proposal, which is sub
mitted to you, was that no Canadian sealer
should be allowed TO come within a certain
number II miles of the Pribylof islands. II
was, however the conclusion of the president,
after reading Lord Salisbury's dispatch OF Feb
ruary -, that the modus y1vendi might
possibly provoke conflict in the Behring
sea, and to 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 sea-
son of 1891 On both occasions IL was con-
versational exchange Of views, the first in my
office at the state department, the second at
my residence
1.-The president was so deslrous of a prompt
response from Lord Salisbury 10 his second
proposition that ventured 10 suggest that you
request an answer by cable If practicable. Es-
pecially 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
cifc states. He left Washington on the night
Of April l3 without having heard word from
your government, 1t was then "a full month
after he had instructed me toopen negotiations
on the question and the only probable inference
was that Lord Salisbury would not agree to his
proposal. The silence of Lord Sails bury implied,
cd NOT al hat he of
strain the Canadian sealers from entering
Behring sea, and as all intelligence from Brit
ish Columbia showed that the 'alers were get
ting ready to sail in large numbers. the presi
dent found that he could not with Justice pre-
vent the lessees from taking seals on the
Pribyloh islands.
1.-THE president, therefore. issued an order
placing the maximum number OF seals TO be
killed at $1,000, in the discretion Of an agent
appointed by the treasury department. Eight
days after the presidents departure notitica
tion was received that Lord Sails
bury would agree to total suspension
of seal killing. This was telegraphed to the
president, who replied expressing great salts
faction. but stating that some seals must be
killed by the natives for food; that the lessees
are bound under their lease from the govern
ment To feed and care for the natives,
making ii necessary to send ship to the
Pribylo6 islands each season at their expense;
"a
the iessees should find compensation in taking
moderate number of seals under the lease.
The president expressed his belief that this al
lowanee would be readily agreed to by Lord
Salisbury because the necessity is absolute"
Mr.. Blaine then sets forth the respon-
sibilities o. the North American Com
pany to the inhabitants of St George
and St. Paul islands, the furnishing of
dried salmon and of salt and barrels for
preserving sufficient meat supplies, also
eighty tons of coal annually, comforta-
BILE dwellings, schools, teachers, church
es and medical attendance. He con-
tinues:
I'm short, then, the means of living, the ia
cilities for education, the care of health, the
religious teaching the training of the young
and old, and in community of over 800 per
sons, are all imposed upon the community as its
solemn dnty by specific articles of the lease.
The duties thus imposed upon the company
must be discharged annually with exact
ness. If the company shall, as you say Lord
Salisbury requests, be deprived of all privilege
OF taking seals, theycertainly could not be com
PEELED to minister to the wants of the 300 inhab
itants for an entire year. If the lessees are not
to be allowed payment in any form for the
amount necessary TO support these 800 people
on the islands they will naturally decline to ex-
pend it. Seal life may be valuable, but the first
duty of the government Of the United States in
this matter is TO protect human life.
In this eKingency the president instructs
me to propose TO Lord Salisbury that he con
cede to the North American Company the
right to take sufficient number OF seals and
more than sufficient to recompense them
for their outlay in taking care of the
natives; and that all commercial kill
ing of seals is prohibited pending the result Of
arbitration. After full consideration the presi.
dent has limited the number to $500 to be
killed by the company to repay them for the
outlay demanded for the support Of the 300
people the Pribylon islands He further
directs that no females be killed. and thus the
productive capacity Of the herd shall not in the
slightest way be impaired
Sir Julian Pauncefote replied at
length to the communication of Sec
rotary Blaine, and during the interval
between this reply and the next note
Secretary Blaine fell i'll in New York
and the correspondence was taken up
in behalf of this government by Act
ing Secretary Adee. The revenue
cutters We're waiting for sailing
orders and Mr.. Adee wrote Sir Julian
Pauncefote note marked personal"
in which he urges reply from England
to Mr.. Blaine's proposition of May f.
As this note failed to secure an official
and formal reply Mr.. Adee renewed
his inquiry on May 90 and adds:
The situation evidently calls for prompt ac-
tion. Each delay increases the existing differ
enees in the ability Of their respective govern
ments to make the proposed limitation Of seal
taking effective. Ample opportunity has been
afforded to her majesty's government
to bring this condition to a close and effective
agreement but the result is still uncertain and
to all appearances remote The president
would be glad TO know that II is near at hand
and certain but he can no longer hold back. in /
furtherance of a vague hope, - the triment {
Of the legitimate interests of the government I
and citizers OF the United States
Il am therefore directed by the president to /
inform you that orders have been given TO the I