Evening journal., 1891-01-07
NEWSPAPER oplNloN.
Mr. Blaine Accepts Mr.. BaJard's Plan
New York Times.

AhNNhtfhN
New York Times.
Mr.. Blaine's letter Of December II.
1890, to tho British Minister puts 8 new
face upon the Alaska seal ques-
ton. opens the way to a Just and
sensible settlement OF our dispute
with Great Britain and sends
grim -yissged war somewhat more than
twenty marine leagues to the rear. This
fortunate state Of Affairs comes about by
reason Of Mr. Blaine's late. but practically
complete, adoption Of the views and
policy OF Mr.. Bayard, his predecessor in
the office Of Secretary OF Sta o. In the
month Of August, 1887, Mr. Bayard pro-
posed to the Governments Of Germany.
Sweden, Norway, Russia, and Japan an
agreement for international co opera
tion' in supplying better protection for
the fur-seal fisheries IN Behrine Sea !"
This proposal was amplifed, and the
outlines OF the agreement were sketched
In Mr.. Bayard letter TO Minister Phelps
Lord Salisbury cordially assented TO the
suggestion that such an agreement be-
negotiated, aud the seal fisheries dispute
was in fair way to speedy settlement
when the entrapment Of Lord Sack7llle.
West BY Republican campaign agents
abruptly closed the correspondence Mr..
Blaine now proposes, precisely as Mr..
Bayard did, that It shall be determined
whether international regulations for the
better protection OF seal life shall not ba
adopted. This question Is tine sixth and
last OF the series which Mr. Blaine offers
tl submit to arbitration. But 1t is the
most important Of the six, and his man =
ner OF statlug IL leaves it to be inferred
that he has little confidence in a decision
favorable to the Blaine view upon the
other FIVE, all OF which involve the ques-
tion OF our exclusive jurisdiction in the
waters Of Behring Sea beyond the marine
League, and Of the rights, be the same
greater or less, derived by us from
Russia, our predecessor in title. Mr..
Blaine's abandonment of his own blus.
tering contentious concerning our rights
in THOSE waters, Is well-nigh as complete
as bis Acceptance Of ...1r. Ssyara's plan
Tr closing the dispute. Having
been often reminded of Mr.. Adams
denial Of Russia's claim sixty
FIVE years ago, be no longer insists
that we Conceded" Ruzsias right TO
forbid foreign vessels entering the
waters Of Alaska, but only that we, as
well as Great Britain, 'acqu,eacea" IN
the fact Of their exclusion by Russia,
lie no longer contends that the United
States must hold Behring Sea to be mere
clsusum. Far from 1t. He "dieavows'
the idea, except ITO the limited extent
and for the single purpose Of protecting
the seals. The necessity OF shifting his
ground so often and OF looking about fol
a soft place" to jump to 50 soon as on,
untenable position must be aban-
doned for another, has prevented
his observing this important fac
that IL he gives up the more clausum
contention he gives up everything
| Russia, in the Cars edict Of 1921, for
bade foreign vessels to approach tn
| AleutiRn isis ds "within less than To-
miles, and III February, 1929, her min
lister explained that "the extent Of sea q
which these possessions form the limit
comprehends all the conditions which ar
ordinarily attached to shut seas, (mer
fermees,) and the Russian Governmen
might consequently judge itself author
ized to exercise upon this sea the right Q
sovereignty, and especially that of entirel
interdicting the entrance OF foreigners
but It preferred only asserting Its essen
tial rights without taking 40 vantage q
localities. Obviously. IL we claim
right transmitted by Russia, we mus
claim and exercise II in it's entirety q
not At all Now that Mr.. Blaine ha
abandoned his own personal plans for al
assault upon the British lion and ha
made propositions for the adjustments q
the dispute by impartial arbitration, it
to be hoped that Lord Salisbury wi
meet the offer In friendly spirit en-
I 1. IL IL. Al
more upon the favorable footing that
had reached when Mr.. Bayard was cor
PEELED to hand it over, with his oiice, Z
| tla nragaut Spcratarv of Stata