Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-11-12

Agreement Reached In tho Details of
Arbitration Facts Made Known in tho
Supreme Court.
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 SUI
preme Court OH the case Of the Canadian
sealer W. L. Sayward, seized for illegal
sealing in Behring Sea, and the first an
nouncement made that the prolonged dip
lomatic correspondence between Secretary
Blaine and Lord Salisbury had resulted in
an agreement by which, with the consent
of the Senate, the long-pending dispute
over the seal fisheries in Behring Sea will
be definitely settled.
Solictor-general Taft, who was address
ing the court, made the first intimation
that the correspondence between the two
countries had reached the point of an
agreement upon arbitration. He stopped
at this point, and when Justice Gray de-
sired some more explicit statement as TO
whether an agreement upon arbitration
had been actually reached. the solicitor
general hesitated to reply. and intimated
that perhaps he had revealed more than he
mot being q cabinet officer, and being
authorized to speak only on legal ques-
tionsl should have done. Thereipon At
torney-general Miller himself interposed,
and not only substantiated all that the
solicitor-general had said, but went further
and announced that the government had
effected al agreement. This was practically
the first announcement made rs to the
progress of the Behring Sea negotiations
since the last correspondence was male
public showing difference of opinion be-
tween the two governments as to the
points of arbitration.
The Encouragement was asked, after
adjournment, II he would throw some
light on the subject.
at Is true that an agreement upon arbi-
tration has been reached, he said. The
matter has been settled between the two
governments, that Is, subject to ratifica-
ton by the Senate. What are the points
of arbitration? | cannot say any more
than said in court. Why don't you go to
the state department? Yes, you can state
as fact that an agreement has been con-
cludcd.
Solictor.general Taft would only con-
firm what the encouragement had said.
In the last correspondence, you know"
said lie, there was simply difference be-
tween the two governments as To the
points of arbitration. Well, the CORE
spondence since then has resulted in a
treaty which now only needs to be ratified
by the Senate.
Secretary Blaine declined to make any
statement touching the matter. The other
officers of the state department were
either ignorant of the progress of the
negotiations or refused say anything upon
the subject.
The inference drawn from the develop
ments to-day is that the President will
submit to the Senate an agreement in the
nature of u treaty between the United
States and Great Britain by which the par.
ties bind themselves to accept rs final and
conclusive the definition to be given by
arbitrator of the exact rights of the
United States in Behring Sea, us well as to
pay any awards or damages suffered by
The nation that Is declared to have held
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 doubtless 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.