The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-02
BeRlNG SEA chRResPoNpENcE.

treasury, Mr.. William Henry Smith. in
the house Of commons today moved that
tho Bering sea bill be read a second time.
Mr. Smith said the bill dealt with a ques-
tion of urgency, and was prompted by a
desire that ARRANGEMENTS of an amicable
character should be made to settle the dis
-pute. He was sure that all parties would
agree that it was better that the difference
be determined by friendly arbitration
than by more barbarous methods. Hear!
Hearl The prohibition would continue
until 1892, within which time 1t was ex-
pected the arbitrators would make an
award. 1t was not proposed that an order
be issued unless Russia also consented TO
the entire prohibition within Bering sea
The compensation would depend upon the
actual loss the ship owners sustained.
There was every reason to hope for the Co
operation of Canada in making the ueces-
sary regulations (Hearl hearD. He did
not urge the house to accept the bill on
the ground of absolute right or OF absolute
justice, but as friendly act TO friendly
power. He was sure that. as in the case
of the North sea convention, the house
would gladly concur IN arrangements
necessary for such a purpose. lCheersI. :
Sir William Vernon HarcourG agreed
with Mr.. Smith that serious misunder-
standing between England and the United
States would be great calamity. The
government would always receive the sap
port of the opposition in referring inter
national questions TO arbitration. 1t was
satisfactory TO find Canada party to the
arrangement. This was essential.
Mr.. Chamberlain said that he heard
with great satisfaction of the arrangement
obtained from the United States. Mr..
Smith had only referred TO the assent of
Russia for close season. He understood
the German flag also had been seen in
Bering sea He hoped that the govern
ment would ascertain what was the po-
sition of maritime nations towards the
question He wanted to know whether
the subjects for arbitration were agreed
upon with the United States, and whether
that pOwerI had withdrawn its startling
claims to almost exclusive possession of
Boring sea.
Sir James Ferguson, under foreign sec
retary, said the arbitration would De con-
cerned not only with the respective rlgnIs
of England, the United States and Canada
In Berlng sea, but also with measures 10
preserve the seals. Overtures had been
made to Russia for the fixing of
close time. Although no answer
has as vet been received. 1t was
known that Russia some time ago was
favorable to such measure. Ine maIIers
to be referred to arbitration were Stlll the
subject of correspondence; but the gov
ernments were coming so closely UogeCher
on the matter that harmonious reference
would soon be obtained.
The bill was then read the second time.
WASHINGTON, June THE latest cor
respondence relative to the taking OF seals
in Bering sea has been made public, as
result of the disclosures in London. Ihe
preceding correspondence closed with
note from Secretary Blaine to Sir Julian
Pauncefote dated April IA, last, changing
somewhat the six questions proposed to
be submitted to arbitration, so that,
in brief. they provide for the
determination of old Russian rights
in the Bering sea, the extent of
their recognition by Great Britain, the
definition of the boundaries of Bering sea,
the extent of the reverslon OF Russian
rights to the United States, the right of
the United States to protect seals outside
of the three mile limit, the determination
of the necessary regulations to that end,
including the limitation of the close sea-
son, and, finally, the question of damages
sustained by the two parties through seal
killing and through seizures of vessels.
The additional correspondence begins
with note from Secretary Blaine to the
British minister, under the date of May 4,
in which he reminds him that during
March he (Blaine) had proposed that
modus vivendi be agreed upon touching
the seal fisheries, pending the result OF
the arbitration of the question between
the two governments.
The presidents first proposal, writes Mr..
Blaine. was that no Canadian sealer should
be allowed to come within a certain num-
ber of miles of the Pribyloff islands. The
president concluded. however, that this
modus vivendi might possibly provoke
conflict in the Bering sea, and, to avoid
that result, he proposed that sealing
should be suspended by both nations dur
ing the season of 1891. No reply was re-
ceived. after waiting full month, and
the only probable inference, wrote Mr..
Blaine, was that Lord Salisbury would
not agree to the proposition.
As all intelligence from British Column
bia showed that sealers were getting ready
to sail in large numbers, the president
vent the lessees from taking seals on the
Priblyoff islands. Permission for such
taking of seals was therefore issued to
lessees. Eight days after the president
had left Washington on his western trip,
writes Mr.. Blaine, the British minister
informed him that Lord Salisbury
agreed to a close season. The president
replied. instructiug Mr.. Blaine to inform
the British minister that the seals must
be killed by the natives to sustain life, or
that the lessees should feed the natives
aud take their compensation in seals.
The British minister, says Mr. Blaine, ex-
pressed his belief that Lord Salisbury
would not agree to the presidents PROPOSE
ton and the president informed him
Blaine) that he refused to believe that
such were Lord Salisbury's views.
Continuing, Mr.. Baine says: I'm this
eXigency the president instruCtS me to pro-
pose to Lord Salisbury that he concede to
the North American company the right to
take sufficient number $500 of seals,
and not more than sufficient, to recon-
pense them for their outlay i'll taking care
of hn
of the president, all commercial killing of
seals be prohibited, pending the result of
the arbitration. This point being fixed
and agreed to, the proposed arrangement
between the two countries would be as fol-
lows:
"The government of the United States
limits the number of seals TO be killed on
the islands for the purpose just described
to 800; the government OF the United
States guarantees that no seal shall be
killed in the open waters of Bering sea by
any person or any vessle sailing under the
American flag, or by any
American citizen sailing under any
other flag; thegovernment ofGrest Britain
guarantees that no seals shall be killed in
the open waters of Behring sea by any per
son or vessel sailing the British flag, and
that no British subject shall engage in
killing seals for the time agreed upon on
any vessel sailing under any other flag,
these propositions snalI coutlnus until the
first day of May, 1922 with
in which time the arbitrato-s
shall render a final award or awards 10
both governments The several PROPOSE
tions are submitted for the consideration
of Lord Salisbury The president believes
that they are calculated TO produce re-
suit at once fair and honorable 20 both
governments, and thus lead to the perna-
nent adjustment OF a controversy which
huz Tt haar@ lo<~
To this note, Sir Julian Pauncsfote re-
rljs,f urpuptlv o, the next day lIay 81 in