Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1891-03-21
RERING SEA.

The probabilities of the settlement of
the Boring Sea difficulties by arbitration
is imminent. They doubtless would haye
been settled in this manner long ago
but for the absurd British claims. Sec
rotary Blame has maintained the dignity
of the country in tho question thus far,
and follows out line of well established
traditional principles when he suggested
this mode of settlement. There are SIX
propositions which the secretary pro-
poses To arbtrate nomely:
l. What exclusive jurisdiction in the
sea known a the Bering sea, aud what
exclusive rights in the seal fisheries
therein, did Russia assert and exercise
prior and up 10 the time of the cesslon OF
Alaska to the Unite ates?
.. How far were shcse claims OF Juris-
lotions as TO the seal fisheries recog-
LIzed and conceded by Great Britain?
3. Was the body of wafer now known
as the BeTing sea included in the phrase
pacific ocean" as used IN the treaty OF
1925 between Great Britain and Russia,
and what rights, If any in the Bering
Britain by the said treaty?
4. Did not all the rights o: Russia as
to the jurisdiction and as To the seal
fisheries in Boring sea eust of the water
boundary, 10 the treaty between the
United States and Russia of the Both OF
March 1867, pass unimpared to the
| United States under that treaty?
5. What are now the rights OF tie
=, 10. 10, fr1r oil ticharlQe
| in the waters of Boring sea outside the
ordinary teri .orial limits, whether such
| rights grew out of the cesslon by Russia
of any special rights or jurisdiction held
| by her in such fisheries or in the waters
| of Boring sea or cot Of the ownership OF
| the breeding island and the habits Of
the seals in resorting Ghither and rearing
their young thereon and going out from
| the islands for food or out of any othel
| fact or incident connected with the rela
ton OF those seal fisheries to the terrific
rial possessions of the United States?
Lord Salisbury makes no objection t.
the first and second question, and The
fourth accepts without dispute. He OBJ
jects, however, to the latter part of the
| third question which reads "wbat rights
| if any in the Boring sea were given o.
conceded to Great Britain by sale
| treaty. His objections are based OF
grounds that Great Britain never as
sumed any rights by hat treaty but tina
she justified her action. on the grounds
| that she has Il natural right to fish IL
the waters Of Boring sea as much as an!
other portion of the pacific ocean. Con
corning the fifth he says: 1.-The fifth
clause, What are now the rights of tn,
| United States as 20 the fur seal fisherie:
ID the waters of the Boring sea outsid,
of the ordinary territorial limits? is {
| question which would be very prOperl.
referred to the decision of an arbitrator
| But the subsequent clause, which as
sumes that such rights could have
grown out of the ownership Of the breed
ing islands and that the habits of thu
seals in resorting thereto, involves al
assumption as to the prescriptions of il
ternal law at the present time to which
Her Majesty's government are not pre-
prepared 10 accede."
1t is apparent that the difficulty Il
sitting down TO the kernal, and tina
both governments will soon understand
precisely what is claimed by the other
Hence We may confidently look forward
to an early settlement of the aggravat
ing problem,