The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-01-16

mr. blaine insists rpen the Correctness
md validity ~ the Position Assumed
By the United states IN Rela-
tion % the Matter.

yesterday afternoon sent 70 Congress
the concluding correspondence between
the United States and Great Britain up
10 date touching the fur-seal question
in the Behring Sea. The correspond
cnce embraces letter dated August :,
1890, from Lord Salisbury 70 sir Julian
Pauncefotc. the British Minister here,
in reply 10 Secretary Blaines letter of
last July maintaining that the United
States derived from Russia rights of
jurisdiction over the waters of Bchring
Sea to distance Of one hundred miles
from the coast. Lord Salisbury in his
letter contends in brief: That England
refused 70 admit any part Of the
Of 1871 Of maritime jurisdiction and ex-
elusive right of fishing throughout the
whole extent Of Behring Sea as far
north as Behring Straits; that the treat
les Of fe25 between Great Britain and
Russia and the United States and Rus
sia were regarded on both sides n re-
nunciation on the part Of Russia Of that
claim in its entirety. and that. though
Bchring Straits were known and spe-
cially provided for. Behring Sea was
not known by that name az the time.
but was regarded rs part Of the Pa
cific Ocean.
Lord Salisbury in support Of this con-
tention land the United States at that
time took the same view of the Russian
claim quotes from the protest Of John
Quincy Adams in 1928, then Secretary
of State. to the Russian representative
here. in which he wrote: Prom the
tenor Of the nkase. the pretensions Of
the imperial government extend 70 an
exclusive territorial jurisdiction from
the f5th degree Of north latitude on the
Asiatic coast 10 the latitude Of 81 de-
grces north on the Western coast of the
American continent; and they assume
the right of interdicting the navigation
and the fishery Of all other nations TO
the extent Of one hundred miles from
the whole Of that coast The Cnited
States can admit no part Of
these claims Their right Of naviga-
tion and Of fishing is perfect. and has
been in constant exercise from the earl
lest times after the peace of l7S3
throughout the whole extent Of the
southern ocean. subject only TO the
ordinary exceptions and exclusions Of
the territorial jurisdictions. which 80
far as Russian rights are concerned are
confined 10 certain islands north Of the
55th degree Of north latitude. and have
no existence on the continent of Amer
lea"
After quoting further from later cor
rcspondencc on the same question.
Lord Salisbury denies that Great Brit
ain ever admitted. by act or by suffer-
ance. the extraordinary claim of mari
time jurisdiction contained in the ukase
of 1921. and says: The inclosed copies
Of correspondence extracted from arch
ives Of this Office make it very difficult
20 believe that Mr.. Blaine has not been
useogether led into error 1t re-
snlfs from them that not only
did Her Majesty's Government
formally protest against the ukasc
on its first issue as con-
trary to the acknowledged law OF ma
tions. but that the Russian Government
gave a verbal assurance that the claim
of jurisdiction would not be exercised
Importance was attached to Obtaining
more formal disavowal Of the claim in
the manner least hurtful to Russian
susceptibilities, but 50 as effectually TO
preclude its revival. And this security
the British Government undoubtedly
considered that both they and the
United States had obtained by the con-
ventions OF 1874 and 1s25-
Lord Salisbury's letter concludes as
follows:
The answer. therefore. to the ques-
tions with which Mr.. Blaine concludes
his dispatch is that Her Majesty's Gov
eminent have always claimed the free
dom Of navigation and fishing in the
waters of Behring Sea outside Of the
usual territorial limits Of one marine
league from the coast: that II is impos-
sible to admit that public right to fish.
catch seals. or pursue any other lawful |
occupation on the high seas can be held !
to be abandoned BY nation from the
mere fact that for certain number Of
years il has not suited the subjects
Of that nation 20 exercise IT, II !
must be remembered that British
Columbia has come into existence
as colony at comparatively recent
date. and that the first considerable in
fiux Of population. some thirty years
ago. was due TO the discovery Of gold
and did not tend 70 an immediate de-
velopment Of the shipping interest.
have to request that you will commu-
nicate a copy Of this dispatch. and Of its
Enclosures. TO Mr.. Blaine. You will |
state that Her Majesty's Government
have no desire whatever TO refuse TO the |
United States any jurisdiction in Bchring
Sea which was conceded by Great Brit
ain to Russia. and which properly ac-
crucs 70 the present possessors Of
Alaska in virtue Of treaties or the law Of
nations; and that IL the United States
Government. after examination Of the
evidence and arguments which have
produced. still differ from them as 10
the legality of the recent captures in
that sea. they are ready to agree that
the question. with the issues that de-
pend upon il, should be referred 20 inn
partial arbitration. You will in that
case be authorized 70 consider. in con
cert with Mr.. Blaine, the method Of
procedure TO be followed"