The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-01-23
Gnrrrnt Relus.
nae WAR CLIQUE CONE.

Sea Question.
There Is no longer a probability of
hostilitics between English and American
ships on Behrlng sea, and the orders for
increasing the American force there are
explained. The report OF Special Agent
Elliott, who was sent To the sea 10 in
vestigate the reports that there were few
seals left. has been nled at Washington
and Blaine. In view OF the evidence It
contains that one or two more seasons
will extermlnate the seals. has changed
his tactics and asks In letter Of Dec.
IL To Sir Julian Pauncefote, that the two
governments send commission to see
for itself which lies. Tingle or Elliot, and
that the entire question at Issue be re-
rerred 10 arbitration. His suggestion
does not. as has been stated In some Of
the papers. dodge the Issue OF sovereignty
In Behring sea. but he asks that the fol-
lowing questions be submitted TO what
ever arbitrators may be chosen.
"First-What exclusive jurisdiction on
the sea now known as Behring sea, and
what exclusive rights In the seal fisheries
therein, did RUSSIA assert and exercise
prior and up TO the time OF the cession
OF Alaska to the United States?
Seeond-EIow far were those claims
of jurisdiction as TO the seal fisheries
recognized and conceded by Great Britaina
"Third-Was the body of water known
as the Behring sea included In the phrase
Pacific Ocean F" as used in the treaty OF
1925 between Great Britain and Russia,
and what rights, IL any, In the Behrlng
sea were given or conceded 10 Great
Britain by the said treaty?
Fourth-Did not all the rights OF
Russia as TO Jurisdiction and as TO the
seal fisheries in the Behring sea east OF
the water boundary in the treaty be-
tween the United States and Russia OF
March 80. 1867. pass unimpaired 10 the
United States under that treaty?
Flfth-what are now the rights OF
tine United States as 10 the fur seal fish
cries In the waters of the Behring sea
outside OF the ordinary territorial limitsg
Whether such rights grow out OF the
cession by Russia OF any special rights
or the jurisdiction held by her In such
fisheries or In the waters of the Behrlng
sea or out of the ownership OF the breed
ing islands and habits of the seals In re-
sorting thither and rearing their young
thereon aud going out from the island
for food, or out of any other fact or in
cident connected with the relation OF
those seal fisheries to territorial possess
siuns of the United States.
"Sixth-n the determination OF the
foregoing questions shall leave the sub
ject in such a position that a concur
renee of Great Britain Is necessary In
prescribing regulations for the killing OF
fur seals in any part of the waters of
the Behring sea, then it shall be further
determined:
"First-How far, IL at all, outside OF
the ordinary territorial limits Is 1t neees-
sary that the United States should exer-
else exclusive jurisdiction In order to
protect the seals for the time living upon
the islands of the United States and feed
ing therefrom.
"Seccnd-whether closed season, dur
ing which the killing of seals In the
waters of the Behrlng sea outside of the
ordinary territorial limits shall be pro
hibited. Is necessary To save the seal
fishing industry, so valuable and inn
portant to mankind, from deterioration
or destruction? And il SO,
Third. what months or parts of months
should be Included in such a season, and
over what waters it should extend?"
Blaine proposes to protect the seals
this year, it appears, and with that end
In view the naval force in Behring sea
is to be strengthened, but he consents to
submit the question of jurisdiction to
arbitration, which he has refused to do
heretofore. because it Is evident that pre-
vious reports of treasury agents have
been erroneous and that a few years of
dallying with the question will leave no
seals TO protect.
Meantime the Victoria sealers have
varied their usual procedure by sending
a man to Washington to ask what course
the United States proposes TO pursue
toward them in Behring sea this year.