New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-06

proposed By Her Maestys Government. has not been
proposed is not thought to be calculated to
conclusion satisfactory to either party. .. ~,
In the judgment OF the President, nothing OF
importance would be settled by proving that Great
Britain conceded no jurisdiction TO Russia over
the seal fisheries of the Behring Sea. IL might as
we'll he proved that Russia conceded no jurlsdc-
ton u England over the River Thames. By
doing nothing In each case everything is con-
ccded In neither case is anything asked of the
other. concession, as used here. means simply
acqulesccnce in the rghtfnlneSs of the title, ana
that Is the only form of Concession which Russia
asked of Great Britain or which Great Britain
gave 10 Russia.
The second offer of Lord Salisbury to arbitrate
amounts simply TO Submission OF the question
whether any country bus Il right To extend its
!arlSdlct1on more than one marine league from
the shore? No one disputes that as rule; but
the question is whether there may not be cXcep-
tons whose enforcement does not interfere with
Those highways of commerce which the necessities
and usage of the world lave marked out. Great
Britain. WHEN she desired exception, did not
stop TO consider or regard the inconvenience 10
which the commercial world might I've subjected.
Tier exception placed an obstacle in the highway
between two continents. The United States, IN
protecting the seal fisheries. will not interfere
with single sail Ut commerce any sea OF the
globe.
1t will mean something tangible, IN the Pres-
dents opinion, II Great Britain will consent 10
arbitrate the real questions which have been under
discussion between the two Governments for the
last four years. | shall endcavor to state what.
in the Judgment Of the President, those issues
are:
First What exclusive jurisdiction in the
known the Behring Sea. and what eN-
elusive rights in the seal fisheries therein. did
Russia assert and exercise prior and up TO the
time of the cesson of Alaska 10 the United States
Second. How far were these claims of jurie
dcton to the seal fisheries recognized and
conceded by Great Britain
Third. Was the body of water now known az
the Bchring Sea included in the phrase Pacific
Ocean" as used in the Treaty of 1925 between
Great Britain and Russia and what rights. II
any, in the Behring Sea were given or conceded
to Great Britain By the said treaty
Fourth. Did not oil the rights Of Russia as to
jurisdiction and as the seal fisheries III Behrng
Sea, east of tho water boundary. in the treaty
between the United States and Russia Of March
30, 1867, pass unimpalred 10 the United States
under shat Treaty?
Fifth. What are now the rights Of the United
States as to the iur-sca fisheries IN the waters VI
the Behrlng Sea outside Of the ordinary territorial
limits, whether such rights grow ont OF the ccSSi"h
by Russia of any special nights or JURISDICTION
held by her in such fisheries OF in the waters OF the
Behring Sea, or ont OF the ownership Of the
breeding islands and the habits OF the seals IN
resorting thithGr and rearing their young thereon
and going out from the islands for food, or ont
of any other fact or incident connected WIN INC
resatloD Of those seal fisheries 10 the territorial
possessions of the | nited States? ;,.,
Sinful tie determination OF the loitRUt"S
questions shall leave the subject in such position
that the concurrence OF Great britain Is hc''sS,H
In prescribing regulations for the kiiihS I'll ,ic
seal part oil Inc WdlfIS VI I'm ms -
thon IL shall be further determined: firSt, no"
far II az all outside the ordinary tcrritOIia minus
II is necessary that She United States should ~.
ercsr an exclusive jurisdiction IN Orscr 10 prov
,he zeal for the time living upon the ISLANDS 81
fine nitcd States and feeding therciron Heo-
oud whether closed season duflng WHl'h t.c
killing OF seals in the waters OF lfhring He' oul-
side the ordinary territorial limits snail lie pro
hibltndj is necessary 10 save the seal hshIhs IN
dustry 50 valuable and important 10 nhhklH''
from deterioration or destruction. Anu IL So
ird tVh months drtS oil NIOuluS SIOHlu "
included il such season, ana over what waters ~
should extend c.., n,
tho / uited states demands that the Behrlng sea
he pronounced mare clauSum are without fouh""1
ton. The Government has never claimed II alt
never de.,, red IT. IL expressly dlsaNows IL AZ
ITO somc time the United States does not lack
abundant authority. according 10 the aDlesl eN
ponents Of international Law, Tor holding sa''
,ection of the Behrlng Sea Tor thc protection %
thr fur seals Controlling "A c"mPf'uSeN r.
strict.d ARA Of water for that one sprrHlr Ptr-
10 Ae il by no means the equivalent nl dr'AillS w
sea or any part thereof. mare cliusuh. Nor 10
II by any means 81 serious an obstruction ~
Great Britain assumed 10 make On the Sputh AZ
hntic. nor 30 groundlcss an interference WIN 'h'
common law Of tnr sc' ~ Is mHinl'Ined ny DIS IL
authority today ~ the Indian ocean hr lIeN
dent does not. however desire the long post
ponement which an examination o. IeEu al,h tD.iI
ties from lplln 10 phil.imorc and h"ut WOMB
involve He finds his own views we'll expressed
by Mr. Phelps. our late Minister - England. when,
after falling TO secure a Just arrangement with
Great Bfltdtn touching llc t'tl HHl'l'N' I' w
the following in his closing communication 10 MS
own Government. September -, l--r
Much learning has b"cn expended upon Oh" discus
sion the abstract question of tie Right ~ mafr clAl
sum. do not conceive IT to bo applicable to the
present
properly managed, permanent rdu,trv. ih' property
Of me nations Niu-c Shor~ II ~ carries. on u =
proposed hy the colony 81 foreign nation. Ia dchan'
Of the lOut ronVfetfnuce ~ all the countries IN
t..re,ted destroy This business by ~" niiscrimnat'
slaughter and determination 81 the animals iu question
In the open ucghhoriug during the period OF gri
ton when the common dlcHt"- OF humanity ought III
protect them there uo Interest a. all Involved
Aud II 4, ~uGce-'c~l that W ar" prevented nom 81"
fcnding OURSELVES AGAINST such drpUd4t1u- hrsnusc
the "a At ortan ii lance from ne cun, Is free.
Tie came line al alignment would taxi under D., pro
tcCjuu piracy aud tho ssv"tInd". when prosecuted m
The Opon sea- would justify nation iu destroy
Ing tho commerce OF another. By placing dtnr roNS
obstructnrS and derelid- lu The open near It's
coasts There many things that cannot De allow ID
~ De- done tho Op'r win IMMUNITY. and again
which every j. mare cn.,sn,n and The riSh ~
-clf defncc. Ia person ana prop rty. prevails t"Nv
could b. destroyed by scattering poison IN"
open adlacent, with some small profit ~ tho" en-
ca,cd m H. would Canada, upon the inst principles Of
International law. be held dcioncec,, NJ such ease
| Set that PROCESS would Dee no more destructive BOO
human and wautOu t1ian This.
II presidents wanting for defence necessary
and proper II f. because dent, Tor such "A
course Of conduct arr likewise unknown. The best
international lau h from prroeden'S that have
been established when IN" Just occasion for tlrp arose.
uudetcrrcd Ivy the discussion 81 abstract ana made
| quatc rucS.
| ] have the honor 70 he, Sir,
Win the highest consideration,
Your obedipnt servant,
JAMES g. BLAINE