The Hawaiian gazette., 1891-06-16
ARBITRATION AGREED UPON.

In the ADVERTISER OF the Sd OF April
we gave the text OF the questions pro-
posed by Mr.. Blaine for submission tc
the arbitrator on the Behring sea ques.
ton.
To some of these Lord Salisbury stated
1 that the British Government were will
ing that they be submitted as drawn by
Mr. Blaine and to others he replied that
they were wholly inadmissible The
latter part of the third question came
under this category. "What rightst(if
any in the Behring sea were given or
conceded TO Great Britain by the said
treaty." wiz, that between Russia and
Great Britain in 1926 to which Lord
Salisbury demurred as he says, Russia
did not give those rights to Great Bri-
tain because they were never hers to
give"
The Objectionable words are now drop
ped, and Mr.. Blaine consents to substi-
tute direction to the arbitrator to in
quire what exclusive rights were held
and exercised by Russia after the treaty.
Mr.. Blaine has further consented to
recast the fifth proposed question rela-
tive to the growth or origin of the sup
posed rights OF the United States, be-
cause in Lord Saisbury's view, it Gin
wolves an assumption as to the prescrip-
tons of international law at the present
time to which Her Majesty's Govern
ment are not prepared to accede." The
sixth question deals with the matter of
close season, whether it be necessary for
the preservation OF the seal from extinc-
ton, and if it is, what are the best
months Of the year.
To this was replied that the question
OF a close season " would perhaps more
fifty form substance OF separate refer
ence," but H. NJ. government has no OBJ
lection to refer the general question of
close time to arbitration, and proceeds
to add, in the event of the arbitrator
finding the seizure of British vessels in
the Behring Sea to be contrary to inter
national law, what damages are due to
the persons injured, and proposes to lay
this question with the others before the
arbitrators. Mr.. Blaine does not object
to this, but proposes, in the event of the
decision going the other way, viz, in
favor OF the United States, that then all
seals taken by Canadian vessels shall be
paid for at the ordinary price for which
skins are sold.
The Times thinks that no objection
can be taken to some proviso relative to
this subject, but that the insertion of
general words must not be permitted,
which would encourage a claim covering
the whole period since the acquisition of
The way to arbitration is then practic-
ally clear, and the questions to be sub
mitted being agreed upon everything
is in train and arbitration may proceed
and judgment be given before the year
is out.
In the meantime what about the pres
emit season? Are the seals to be hunted |
by the company extra energetic perhaps
IN view of possible tabu of a year or |
TWO, and the outsiders as well, or will |
an understanding be arrived at in time |
10 save the seals for this season from at |
all events every one but the lessees?
The British Government has always
expressed its readiness to come to an
agreement that there shall be, subject |
10 conditions, close season. The only |
parties who appear to be interested in
delaying the mutual arrangement for |
close season are the lessees, and they |
IAN hardly be suspected of a desire to |
ill their golden goose, or in other words |
szterminate the seals in one or two sea-
sons, SO the delay is somewhat unintel-
igible.