Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-11
CAME OUT IN COURT.
England and the United States
Consent to Leave to
Arbitration
THE SEALERIES DISPUTE.
Very Peculiar Manner in Which the
News Was Made Public.
CONFIRMED BY THE OFFICIALS,
But They Won't Give the Terms or the
Arbitrators' Names.
THE SEALERIES DISPUTE.
CONFIRMED BY THE OFFICIALS,
But They Won't Give the Terms or the
Arbitrators' Names.
ALL GIVEN AWAY BY SOLICITOR TAFT

WASHINGTON, Nov, 10.-The public was
taken into the confidence of the diplomatic
branch of the Government, this afternoon,
in the continuation of the hearing begun
Yesterday before the United States Supreme
Court, in the case of the Canadian sealer,
W. P. Sayward, seized for illegal sealing in
Bering Sea- and the first announcement
made that the prolonged diplomatic cor
respoudence between Secretary Blaine and
Lord Salisbury had resulted in an agree
ment by which, with the consent of the
Senate, the long pending dispute over the
seal fisheries in Bering Seawill be definitely
settled.
Solicitor General Taft, who was address,
ing the court, made the first intimation that
the correspondence between the two coun-
tries had reached the point of an agreement
upon arbitration. He stopped at this
point, and when Justice GRAY desired some
more explicit statement as to whether an
agreement upon arbitration had been actu-
slly reached, the solicitor General hesi-
tated to reply, and intimate; that perhaps
he had revealed more than he (not being a
Cabinet officer and being authorized to
speak only on legal questions) should have
done. Thereupon, Attorney General Mil
Ter interpoGed, and not only substantiated
all that the Solicitor General had said, but
went furthes, aud announced that the Gov
eminent had effected an agreement.
Important News First Announced.
This was practically the first announce
ment made as to the progress of the Bering
Sea negotiations since the last correspond
ence was made public showing difference
of opinion between the two Governments
as to the points of arbitration. 1t was sur.
prising that the news should first come out
IN an argument in court, and the Attorney
General was asked, after adjournment, if
he could throw some light on the subject.
'fIt is true that an agreement upon arbi-
tration has been reached" he said. eyes,"
he added, "the matter has been settled be-
tween the two governments; that is, sub
iect 70 ratification by the State
''Whst are the points of arbitration?'
Il cannot say any more than said in
court Why don't you go to the State De-
partment2 Yes, you can state as fact
that an agreement has been concluded"
Solicitor General Taft was next seen, but
would only confirm what the Attorney
General had said.
''In the last correspondence, you KNOW"
he said, there was simply a difference be-
tween the two governments as to the
points of. arbitration. Well, the corre-
spondence since then has resulted in q
treaty, which now only needs to be ratified
by the Senate"
New Way to Learn Such News.
The reporter suggested that it was some
thing unusual to hear the announcement of
such important news in an argument in
court
But it's a fact" was the response,
laughingly, but positively given.
Secretary Blaine positively declined to
make any statement touching the matter.
The inference drawn from the develop
ments to-day (including the statement made
by the Attorney General to the representa-
tive of the Associated Press, as above
given), is that the President will submit to
the Senate an agreement in the nature of
treaty between the United States and Great
Britain, by which the parties bind them
selves to accept as final and conclusive the
definition to be given by the arbitrators of
the exact rights of the United States in
Bering sea, as well as to pay any awards of
damages suffered by the nation that is de-
clared to have had the true contention. 1t
is also presumed that arbitrators have been
selected, but none of the officials seen would
discuss the details of the agreement, doubt
less for the reason that it has to be submitted
to the Senate for ratification, and therefore
comes under the executive session rules of
the Senate which require secrecy to be OBJ
served.
The court room was well filled with lead
ing members of the bar when the court
opened this morning. and Solicitor General
Taft resumed his argument At its close,
Nh. Choate, in behalf of Great Britain, ad-
dressed the Court.