Evening journal., 1891-06-16
TO PRESERVE THE SEALS
Harrison and Salisbury Have
Agreed at Last.
THEIR LATEST CORRESPONDENCE

both Countries win Hound the Pirates.
WASHINGTON, June 16.-The Behring sea
correspondence has just been made public |
by the department of state. The CORE
spondence begins with letter from Min
lister Pauneefote in reply TO one from Sec
retary Blaine dated May 4. in which Mr..
Blaine proposed a closed sealing season. |
Sir Julian Pauncefote's letter in reply 70 !
the proposition Of Secretary Blaine fol- |
lows.
Lord saIisbury's Proposal.
Proposal OF her majesty's government for /
modus vivendi in the Behring sea during the |
present fishery season.
l. The governments Of Great Britain and Of |
the United States shall prohibit until May, lsEs, /
the killing Of seals in Behring YEA any islands |
thereof, and will to the best Of their power and |
ability insure that subjects and citizens Of the /
two nations respectively and the vessels flying |
their respective flags shall observe that prohi- |
bition.
2 During the period above specified the Unit |
ed States government shall have the right TO |
kill 800 seals
B. Consuls may at any time be appointed TO |
the islands in the Behring sea, and the United |
States government will grant an eNeGuatur 70
any such consnls.
4 Unless the assent Of Russia be obtained TO
this convention il shall not come into opera
tion.
The Presidents Proposed Amendments
President Harrison then proposed the
following changes, under date of June 4,
in place of the first and second snbdivis-
| ions of Salisbury's agreement;
l. The government OF Great Britain shall pro.
hibit until May l. lsg2 the killing OF seals in all
| that part of the Behring sea lying east, east
| wardly OF southeastwardly of the line described
| in article Of the convention between the Unit
ed States and Russia OF date March %, 1867,
and will promptly take such stops as best
calculated effectively 10 insure the observance
OF this prohibition by the subjects and citizens
Of Great Britain and ali vessels flying its flag.
| ? The government of the United States shall
prohibit until May ], 1892, the killing Of seals in
| that part Of Behring sea above described, and
/ on the shores and islands thereof. the property
| Of the United States Gin excess OF 100 TO be
taken on the islands,; and the government Of
| the United states viii promptly take such steps
/ as are best calculated effectuRlly 10 insure the
| observance Of this prohibition by the citizens
of the United States and the vessels flying it,
flag.
These changes are suggested in order tina,
| the modus may clearly have the same terri.
torial extent with the pending proposals for
bitration; that the stipulation for prohibition
Of seal killing upon the islands Of the United
States may rest upon its own order, and that
the obligation Of the respective governments 10
give prompt and vigorous effect to the agree
ment may be more clearly apparent
~ Did Not Seem Pertinent.
The president stated that he could not
see the pertinency of the third subdivision
of Salisbnry's agreement because, aceors-
ing to the laws OF the United States, nd
consular functions could be discharged
upon the islands by any representative OF
her nlajesty's government The president
added, however, that he would be pleased
TO give British agents reasonable facilities
of posting themselves concerning facts at
the islands for use before the arbitrators
satisbury's impossible Proposal.
Great Britains fourth proposal, concern
ing the assent Of Russia to the convention
seemed to the president an insuperablt
difficulty. Unless it was dropped it would
prevent conclusion OF negotiations Rus
STA had never asserted any rights in the
waters under discussion and was conse-
quently not proper party. The presi-
! dent added
Negotiations for an arbitration have been
proceeding between the United States and
Great Britain and If these powers are compe
| tent 70 settle by this friendly method their re
spective rights and relations in the disputed
waters upon permanent basis 1t would seem
70 follow that no question could arise as to their
: competency u deal dipectly with the subject OF
a single season. If Great Britain now insists
upon impossible conditiOns-vk., that the con
clusion Of the mOdus vivend is 10 be delayed
until and made contingent upon the assent o.
Russia 70 stop the killing Of seals on its own
islands and in its own waters and upon the ex
| ercise Of the president Of powers not conferred
by law, this would be, in his opinion, practical
/ withdrawal by Great Britain from the negotia
tions for modus viyendi. This he would very
much regret and he confidently hopes that o
reconsideration will enable Lord Salisbury tC
, I ~ Df NAT n
in the agreement and the inclusion Of other
waters than those TO which the contention be
tween the United States and Great Britain re
lates
To Arrest the Guilty Vessel
! The president then proposed provision
providing for the arrest by either govern
} ment Of vessels violating the closed season
rules, such vessels to be turned over TO tn,
nearest port Of the nation whose flag they
carry for judicial proceedings.
lie Waived His Point.
: Lord Salisbury then waived his point
? that Russia should be a party to the agree
ment He suggested that the United
States could under the statute "speciiicall,
AUTHORIZE the residence OF a British agent
on the seal islands during the present sea
j son to satisfy the British government thai
l the 800 limit was not exceeded. Sails
bury would extend the prohibition ovei
the entire Behring sea II the United States
agreed TO do the same In conclusion Lolf
Salisbury stated that her majesty's govern
a ment considered it matter of great i'm
| portance that the two governments should
, agree on the terms of arbitration at tn,
same time as on modus yivendi Tn,
suspension Of sealing was not measure
which they could repeal another year.
> No Foreign Supervision.
Acting Secretary OF State Wharton re
Z piled June s expressing the presidents sat
isfaction with Lord Salisburya note, and
adding:
The president is sure that Lord Salisbury
win not question the absolute good faith OF tbi,
| government in observing its stipulation s.
limit the catch to 1900 This governmer
could not, of course, 1onsept TO any arrange
ment that implied such doubt o5 involves
any foreign supervision on the islands. II IN,
D prompt and effectual recall OF the fleet Of the
Canadian sealers now at sea was as fully witlri-
the control Of Great Britain the president woult
=, not have suggested the provision for the arrest
: by either party Of vessels violating the prohib
{ ton but would have rested confidently in tn,
Rssuxsace given by her majesty's government
The Presidents Proposal.
The following proposal is then submitted
| to the British government;
: /. The government Of Great Britain will pro
hibit until May, 1872 the killing Of seals in all that
part of the Behring sea lying east, eastwardly
or sontheastwardly of the line described in
article Of the convention between the United
States and Russia of date March 30. 1857, and
| will promptly take such steps as are best cal