Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-07
BEHRING SEA.
The Correspondence on the Fur
Seal Question
Submitted to the House by the
President.

Number Of Enclosures, Comprising
Treaties, Notes and Extracts from Pre-
vious Correspondence on the Subject.
A Letter from Mr.. Blaine.
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE president
Monday transmitted to the house of rep.
resentatives further correspondence on
the subject of the Behring sea contro.
versy between the United States and
Great Britain. The presidents message
is altogether formal, and merely states
that in response to the resolution of the
house of representatives he transmits
the correspondence called for A letter
from Secretary Blaine also accompanies
the correspondence, but it is purely one
of transnittal.
The correspondence transmitted by
the president is made up of two very
long letters and a number of Enclosures,
comprising treaties, notes and extracts
from previous correspondence, which
Secretary Blaine says concludes the cor
respondence touching the fur-seal qlles-
tlon up to date
One of these letters is from Lord
Salisbury to Sir Julian Pauncefote, the
British minister, dated Aug ,, 1890 aud
the other was addressed by Secretary
Blaine to the British minister Dec II
last.
Lord Salisbury's letter is confined to a
discussion Of the Russian ukase and the
treaty of 1925. He argues at length that
Mr. Blaine has misinterpreted Mr.
Adams position
In conclusion, Lord Salisbury cites the
instructions given to the British plenipo-
tentiary- who negotiated the treaty
of 1925.
As stronger evidence of his correctness,
Mr., Blaine cites the protocols of the
treaty of 1924 to show that Russia's re-
linquishment of jurisdiction applied only
to the territory between the tiftieth and
sixtieth degrees. Also, an explanatory
rote from Russia to Mr. Adams in 1924
positively excepting the Aleutian islands
2nd country north of 50 degrees min
Ttea from the concession of the United
States of the right to fish and trade.
The explanatory note referred TO above
reads:
''Explmlatory note to he presented to
the goF ernment Of the United States at
the time OF the exchange of ratifcatiOns,
witt view TO removing with more Ger
t;iinty all occasion for future discussions;
by means OF which note it will he seen
ttils,tt the Aleutian islands, the coasts of
Siberia and the Russian possessions in
general on the northwest coast of Amer
lea to 80 degrees and 30 minutes of
north latitude, are positively excepted
from the liberty of hunting fishing and
&C 't1a dpglatteed ~. IL favor Of citizens
This seems to be only natural con-
sequence of the stipulations agreed upon,
for the coasts of Siberia are washed by
the Sea of Okhotsk, the Sea of KaIns-
chatza and the Icy sea, and not by the
South sea mentioned in the first article
of the convention of April 5-17, 1924
The Aleutian islands are also washed By
the Sea of Kamschatka, on Northern
ocean.
1T is not the intention of Russia to
impede the free navigation of the Pacific
ocean. She would be satisfied with
causing to be recognized as well under
stood and placed beyond all manner of
doubt the principle that beyond 80 de-
grees 30 minutes no foreign vessel can
approach her coasts and her islands. nor
hunt within the distance of two marine
leagues This will not prevent the re-
C6pJlOl u lbICISl NCoStIS Nlltn iidNb
been damaged or beaten by storm,
OF this note Secretary Blaine says;
"The explanatory note OF the Russian
government disproves and denies in de-
tail the three assertions Of Lord Sahs-
bury. ! think they are completely dis
proved by the facts recited III this dis
patch, but the explanatory note is a spe
cific contradiction of each ono Of them
Further the secretary says:
"The United States, having the most
extended seacoast of all the nations of
the world, may be presumed 10 have
paid serious attention to the laws and
us9ges which define and limit maritime
jurisdiction. The course of this govern
ment has been uniformly in favor Of up.
holding the recognized law Of nations ON
that subject While Lord Sal.sbury's
admonitions are received in good part by
this government, we feel justified in ask
ing his lordship if the government Of
Great Britain has uniformly illustrated
these precepts by example, o. whether
she has not established at least one nota-
BILE precedent which would Justify us in
making greater demands upon her maj
estys government touching the Behring
sea than either our necessities or on; de-
Fires have ever suggested. The secre-
tary here cites the action Of Great Brit
ain in excluding vessels from the waters
within eight leagues from st. Helena
when Napoleon was confined there. and
again refers to the protection exercised
over the Ceylon pearl fisheries by Great
Britain and says
II am directed by the president 10 say
that, ON behalf Of the United States. he
is willing to adopt the text used in the
act of parliament To exclude ships from
hovering nearer to the island of st. He
Jena than eight marine leagues, or he
will take the example cited by sir
George Badcn-Powell, where, by permis-
sion of her maiesty's government. con-
troll over part Of the ocean COO miles wide
is to-day authorized By Australian law.
The president will ask the government
Of Great Britain % agree to the distance
Of twenty marine leagues, within which
no ship shall hover around the islands Of
st. Paul and st. George from the 18th
of MAY "a the 10Th If October II each
year. This w1li prove an effective mode
Of preserving the seal fisheries for the
NE of the civilized world a mode which,
On view Of Great Britains assumption ~
power ever the open ocean. she cannot
with consistency decline
Secretary Blaine In closing says; IN
the Judgment II the president nothing
Of importance would be settled hy prov
ing that Great Britain conceded nO
jurisdiction a. Russia over She seal
Fisheries ef tk1 Hehring sra. II might
a. well lm pro, sd that Russia conceded
no iuriaiictiott a. England over the
river Thames, BY doing nothing 90
each caa,s everything Is conceded In
neither case . anything asked ef the
other tunCfaeion A. ussd h#fe,
means simply hsHuienCnnen lH the dEht.
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