Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-03-11
CLOUDS CLEARING
THAT HUNG THREATENINGLY OVER THE
BEaRNG SEA QUESTION.
The Negotiations Have Now Taken Most
Favorable Tuu, Which May Lead to a
Compsts and Peaceful Settlement Of the
DifRc1lty-LOrd Salisbury's Letter.

WASHINGTON, March lO.-The Behr
ing sea affairs have taken a most favor
able turn, and the United states an'
Great Britain appear TO have at length
reached basis upon which 10 Settl'
their difficulties, as is evidenced
by the communication from Lord Sails
bury to Sir Julian Pauncefote
the British minister here, which wa
laid before Secretary Blaine, and wa
made public by him tonight. In thu
letter 10 Sir Julian Pauncefote, Lore
Salisbury said: 1T is now quite cleal
that the advisers Of the President do no
claim Behring's Sea as mare clusUm
aud indeed that they repudiated thai
contention in express terms. Nor dc
they rally, rs a justification for the
seizure OF British ships in the oper
sea upon the contention that
the Interests OF the sea
fisheries to give ts the United States
Government any right for that purpose
which according to International law il
would not otherwise possess. Whatever
Importance they attach to the preSer'
vation OF the fur seal species, and they
Justly look on il as an object deserving
the most serious Solicitude, they do not
conceive that il confers upon them any
maritime powers or rights over the
open ocean which that power could not
assert on other grounds.
The claim Of the United States TO pre-
vent the exercise of the seal fishery by
other nations in Behring Sea rests now
exclusively upon the interest which by
purchase they possess in a UkaSe issued
by the Emperor Alexander l., in the
year lS2l, which prohibits foreign yes
self from approaching within 100 Italian
miles of the coast ana islands belonging
to Russia in Behring Sea.
The ukaSe was mere uSurpation,
but il is said that il was converted into
valid international law as against the
British government by the admission Of
this government itself. am not con-
cerned 70 dispute the contention that an
invalid claim may as against another
government acquire a validity which in
its conception it did not possess, if it is
formally or effectively accepted by that
government. But the vital question
for decision is whether any other
and especially whether
the government of Great Britain has
ever accepted the claim put forward i'm
this ukaSe. Our contention is, tina, not
only can 10 not be shown that the Gov
ernment OF Great Britain at any time
since 1921, has admitted the sOundueSS
of the pretenSionS put forward by that
ukaSc, but that il can be shown that ii
has categOrically denied ii on more
than one occasion. To sustain this con-
tention Lord Salisbury quotes from a
letter;
Mr.. Blaine goes on To contend that
Pacific ocean did not and does not in
cudc Behring sea. But am not pre-
pared toadmiI the Justice Of Mr.. Blainc'S
contention that the words Pacific
ocean" did not include Behring sea. /
believe that IN common parlance then
and no Behring's sea was and
is part OF the Pacific ocean;
and that the latter words were used in
order to give the fullest and widest
scope possible TO the claim which the
British negotiatOrS were SOlemnly re-
cordiug Of a right feely To navigate and
fish i'm every part Of it, and throughout
its entire extent.
There is an omission in these ques-
tions which, have no doubt, the Gov
ernment or the President will be very
glad to repair, and that is the refer
ence to arbitration OF the question what
the damages are TO persons who have
been injured, in case il shall be deter
mined by him that the action OF
the United States In seizing British
vessels has been without warrant In
International law. Subject to these
reservations Her MajeSty'S government
will have great satisfaction To- joining
with the government OF tte United
States In seeking by means OF arbitra-
tion an adjustment OF the International
question which have 50 long formed a
matter Of controversy between the two