Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-06-04
THE SEALS IN BEHRING SEA.
How This Government Has En-
deavored to Protect Them.

deavored to Protect Them.
The Onicial Correspondence Made Public
what tho Home Government De-
inandcd--Awaiting the Action oil Far
lament.
WASHINGTON. June The long-deferred
correspondence relating to the Behring
Sea controversy was made public to-day,
and il shows that this government has al
along been more anxious than the British
government to establish a close season and
10 suspend the killing of seals until the
whole question can be settled by arbtra-
ton.
After Secretary Blaine was taken III the
President assumed direct control of the
subject, but failed to obtain any reply
from Lord Salisbury to the proposal for q
close season.
The Indications are that the British Par
lament will Immediately pass the pending
bill relating To the Behring Sea and that II
will be followed by an order to Canadian
vessels to stop the catching Of seals. also
that The United states will Immediately CO.
operate ana employ its power to maintain
Il close season These negotiations will
require some time and pending that it is
estimated that not less than 10000 seals
will be killed
But officials of the treasury and state
departments believe that arrangements
will be completed in time to stop such d
slaughter of seals as mas been dreaded.
The correspondence made public to-day
opens with note from secretary Blaine
tp the British minister, dated May ith, i'll
which, after long statement to SHOW the
absolute necessity for the taking of some
seals by the lessecs of the islands to enable
them to maintain the natives as per agree
ment, the Secretary proposes the following
arrangement between the two govern
ments.
The government Of the United States limits
the Huinter of seals to be killed on the islands
fol purposes inst described to 1900
The government OF the United States guar
antrcS that no seals shall he killed in the open
waters OF TIM Behring ssa by any person On
any vessel sailing under the American Nag, or
by any American citizen sailing under any
other flag.
lhs government of Great Britain guarantees
fhHt no senls shnll be killed in the oprn waters
Of Tho Bchring sra by ans person ON any vessel
sailing under the British flag and that ~
British snblect shall engage In killing seals for
the time agreed upon amy vessel smiling under
any other nag.
These prohibitions shall continue until the
LIST day Of May, 1892! within which Tins the mr.
htrnturs shall render final awards or awards
10 both governments
To this note Sir Julian Panncefote re-
piled promptly the next day that he had
transmitted the secretary communication
to Lord Salisbury. and that he had no
doubt the matter would be attended to at
once
ON May 2oth, nothing more having been
heard from England, Acting Secretary
Adce sent a personal note to Sir Julian,
urging the Importance of an immediate re-
ply This elected no response, and OH the
2tth Mr.. Adee again wrote to the minister
informing him that the Rush had been
ordered to the sealing islands, but that the
Corwin would follow her later and would
carry appropriate orders to her should the
matter IN question be arranged at once,
To this Sir Julian replies ON the 9TH that
his government has been making all haste
possible, but has rs vet been unable 10
make any definite reply TO Mr. Blaine
proposal.
BLUE RooK PUBLISHED.
LONDON. June IA blue book was pub
lishcd this afternoon giving the most re-
cent correspondence between Great Britain
andtle United States touching the Behring
Sea seal fisheries.
The. blue book opens with a telegram
from Lord salisbury to Sir Julian PaunCe-
fote. british minister al Washington.
dated April 18th, expressing approval of
Secretary Blaine's suggestion that there be
aeompctc cessation Of seal catching pend
ns die award Of the proposed board Of ar
hitratinn
The following cable dispatches from Sir
Jllllall u LORD salisbury, dated April I'd,
sd ard 9th and May 4tl, 9Th and 10th,
referring tothe modns vivcndi andinform-
ing Lord salisbury that Secretary Blaine
preferred that the proposal for a hearing
should come from Great Britain.
Ihc blue book also gives Secretary
lilainr's dispatch Of May lth, detailing tile
proposals and the note Of Minister Paunce-
fote to Secretary Blaine Of May 5th In a
dispatch TO Lord salisbury of May 18th
Minister Palncefote says that President
Harrison is anxious for reply to Secrc-
tary lilainc's last note, and in dispatch Of
May 10Th says that the President is much
concerned, but cannot detain the cruisers
The blue book ends with cable dispatch
from LORD salisbury TO Minister Paunce-
iote, dated May 18th, saying that bill
had been introduced in parliament to give
the queen authority to forbid the killing
Of seals IN 3chrng Sea by British subjects
and declaring that the British government
could take no further action in the matter
until this bill had been passed by parIia-
meut.