The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-06-16
The CORRESPONDENCE
Am erIcan Propositions Which Great
Britain Accepted.

WASHINGTON, June 15-The Department
of State today made public the correspond
ence of the Behring Sea seal fisheries. which
has taken place since May 28th last. Secre-
tary Blaine's letter of May 4th says that
soon after the adjournment of Congress he
submitted to the minister proposition for a
modus vivendi pending the result of arbitra-
tion. This. In substance, was that sealing
be totally suspended by both nations. Sub
sequently this proposition was modified to
allow 1900 seals to be killed to maintain the
natives. To this proposition. Sir Julian
Pauncefote replied with proposal:
1-That the government OF Great Britain shall
Bebps sea- or apy o the Sere ~ snd
will TO the best of its power and ability, ensure
resb hs S1eSs @ And Sdns szsns 9f The % to nsrens
i've flags shall observe the prohibition.
2-During the period above specified, the Unit
ed States Government shall have the right to kill
1900 seals.
the Islands in Behring Sea, and the United States
consul
this convention, 1t shall not come into operation.
To this proposal. Acting Secretary Whar-
ton replied June 4th that In place of the
first and second subdivisions of the agree
ment submitted by Sir Julian, the President
suggested that the government of Great
Britain prohibit until May /, 1892, the killing
of seals in all that part Of Behring Sea lying
eastwardly or enthusiastically by the
line described in the articles of convention
between the United States and Russia on
March 80. 1867, and the government Of the
United States should 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, in excess OF 1900 to be
taken on the islands, both governments
promptly to take such steps asbest calculated
effectually to insure the observance of this
prohibition. These changes were suggested
in order that the modus might clearly have
the same territorial extent with the pending
proposals for arbitration. The President
declined to accede to Great Brltain's request
for the appointment OF consuls on the
islands but was willing to grant reasonable
facilities to Great Britain to see that the
agreement was being kept.
Mr.. Wharton then says: "The fourth
clause Of the proposal of Her Majesty's gov
ernment limiting the taking effect of the
modus vivendi upon the assent of Russia,
presents what seems to the President an in
superable difficulty as the adherence to that
suggestion by Her Majesty's government
will, In his opinion, prevent the conclusion
of any agreement. and will inevitably cause
such delay as to thwart the purposes which
he must suppose both governments had in
view. am also directed to remind you that
the contention between the United States
and Great Britain has been limited to the
part of Behring Sea eastward of the line of
demaIcati0n described in our convention
with Russia and Russia never asSei ted any
rights In these waters affecting the. subject
matter OF this contention. She cannot there
fore be necessary party to these negotia-
tions il they are not now improperly expand
ed. Under the statutes of the United States
the President is authorized to prohibit sea-
Ing In Behring Sea within the limits described
In our convention with Russia and restrict
United States. He has no authority conferred
upon him to make penal the taking of seals
10 the waters OF Behring sea westward Of
the line referred to or upon any of the shores
or Islands thereof Ii Great Britain now
insists upon impossible conditions, viz:
That the conclusion of the modus vivendi be
delayed until, and made contingent upon the
own islands and In its own waters and uron
the exercise by the President Of powers not
conferred by law, this would be, In his opi n
ion, practical withdrawal by Great Britain
from the negotiations for modus yiyendI,
In case terms are agreed upon. the President
suggests the provision heretofore considered
in another connection In a general CORES
pondence by which naval or other duly com
missioned officers of either party may arrest
any offending vessel and turn it
over at the nearest port of the alton
whose flag it carries for such judicial nro-
ceedin6s as the law provides, should be in
corporated here. more effectually to carry
out the stipulati0ns of tue respective gov.
ernments to prohibit citizens and yesseis
tIom taking seals In the specified waite rs of
Behring Sea. 0A
After some further correspondence. the
agreement was made as announced in the
Presidents proclamation today.