Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-06-02


u On the 23rd Of April tele8rsphed Lord
Ssiisbury's proposition 10 the President
He replied. April 25, expressing great saiis-
faction with Lord Salisbu.y's message, in
structiDg me TO inform you that some seals
must be killed by The natives for food; that
lessses bound, under lesse from the gov
ernment to feed and care for the natives,
making it necessary to send q ship to the
Pribylof Islands eseh season at their ex-
pense; that for this very expensive service.
lessees should flnd their compensation in
taking 9 moderate humber of seals under
a lease. The President expressed the be-
lief that this allowance would be readily
agreeded to by Lord Salisbury, because the
necessity is absolute.
You will remember when communicated
this proposition Of the President to you April
27, you did not agree with the Presidents
suggestion, You expressed yourself as
confident !hst Lord Salisbury would not
accept it. In your judgment the killing of
seals must be cut eff absolutely on land
and water; il could not be stopped on
either unless stopped on both The Pre-
sident refuses to believe that Lord Sails
bury can possibly maintain the position you
have taken when his lerdship is placed in
fun possession of facts. When the priv
iege of killing eeBls oa the islands Of Ssiut
George ard Saint l'sul In Bebring Sea
WAS leased 10 lhe y 5,th American Company
for certain sum per skin TO be paid to the
government, other duties Of an onerous,
costly and responsible character were i'm
posed upon the company.
Mr.. Bl&ine the1 states what, under their
lease, the company is obliged TO furnish
the inhs b.tants on the islands of st. George
and St. Paul. Mr.. Blaine then says:
1.-THE comfort, possibly the saftey, of al
these human beings, peculiarly helpless
when left TO themselves. is dependent upon
the company under the lease and the lessees
are paid therefor by the Government in
sealskins which tn, company receives for
the eIvices IL the company shall, as yoa
say Lord Salisbury requests, be deprived
Of all privilege of tskiog seals, they car.
tainly could not be compelled to minister
to the wants of these 800 inhabitants for
ths entire year. No appropriation of
money has been msde by Congress for the
purpose, and the President cannot leave
these worthy and innocent people to
hszard starvation, even to secure
any form Of sgreemept with Lord
Salisbury touching seal life. The
first duty of the United States in this
matter, is to protect human life. In this
exigeucy, the President instructs me to
propose to Lord Salisbury to concede to the
North Anne ricsn Company the right to take
a sufficient number of seals, 70 more than
sufficient. TO recomperse them for the out
lay in taking care Of the natives; and that
all commercial killing sesls be prohibited
pending result Of a. bitration.
The secretary Of the treasury has the
right to fix the number necessary to the
end desired. After full consideration he
limited The number to 1900 to be killed by
the compsny to repay them fer the outlay
demsnd for the support of 800 people on
ills Priby loft islands He further directs
ttat no females be killed. and that the pro
ductive capacity Of the herd shall not in
the slightest degree be impaired. This
point being fixed and sgreed to the proposed
arrangement cchetveen.the two countries
would be that the government of the United
States limits the number Of seals
to be killed on the islands for
the purposes just described to 1900
The govern mems Of the United States and
Crest Britain guarantee that no seals will
be killed In the epsn waters of Bshring
sea by any person on any vessel saiiing z
under the flag Of its respective country or
by any citizen Of his respective country
sailing under sny other fi,g. The pYohibi-
fions continue until the first day Of May,
1899, within which time srbitrstors shall
render the fual award or awards to both
governments. The President believes that
,hess propositions are calculated to produce
results at once fair and honorable TO both
governments, and thus lead to the perma-
nent adjustment of the controversy already
too long at issue.
Sir Julian Psuncefote, May says in his
note of April 20 be informed Mr.. Blaine
that Lord Salisbury WAS disposed to con-
sider favorabiy the proposition for cessation
of seal killing at sea and On land. He re-
minds Mr.. Blaine that the latter, April 81,
informed him (Sir Juliar) thst the Presi-
dent desired modus vivenci should contain
resetvs'ion Of the right to kill a certain
number of seals for the support of the
natives Of Pfibyloff Islands.
He ssys: This reservation appeared to
me to be open to exception as detrscting
from the principle Of equality which was
the feature Of the original proposal. But
/ an more concerned at your stating tina. IL
Fever Wa4 I1tSDauH OF Tue IfStiISut
yourself q modus vivendi should be put in
force until the terms Of arbitration had
been settled. This / feared would pre-
vent timely application Of moius viven-
di and 30 informed Lord Salisbury by
telsgrsm or the same day"
Il notice With satisfaction that no auch
condition is afi-td to your present proposal,
although the reservation ss to killing 4
ceitain number OF seals on the islands il
maintained. / think there is yet time to
carry cut for this fishery season any ar
ransement which may promptly be agreed
to-
During the interval between the abovs
and the nexs note Secretary Bisine fell
| i'll in New York ard tie correspondence
Was taken up in behalf Of this government
by Acting Secretary Adee. Revenue cut,
ters were ~aitiog for ssiling orders. Mr
Adee on May 20 wrote to Sir Julisn . note
marked personal" saying thas the Presi
dent was desirous to learn the reply
Of her msjssty's government 70 the
proposition submitted in the depart
menss of the note Gf May 4. Al
the above note failed TO secure ..
official sud formal reply, Mr.. Adee re
neved the inquiry in . note dated May &c
in which be eaid: s.In several interview
-. u nat