People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-04-01
THE SEALING DISPUTE.
The Correspondence Between Uncle
Sam and John Bull.
Lord Salisbury's Vague Note Meets With a
Vigorous Responsible More Delays
American Interests viii Be Pro-
tected-Salisbury RejOins.
TSAlonnacy.

WASHINGTON, March 26.-ln a letter
to the state department the British
minister communicates the information
that Lord Salisbury declines to renew
the modus vivendi and claiming the
right of protection from loss incurred
by free sealing in the Behring sea, and
Directing to 4 suspension of sealing
pending arbitration. In reply to the
note Acting Secretary Of State Wharton
says:
Already forty-seyen Canadian vessels have
cleared for the sealing grounds as against
thirty one at the same date last year and are
engaged in following up and destroying the seal
herds These vessels will, if not stopped and
turned back at the passes 30 into the Behrng
sea and pursue TO the very shores Of our islands
the slaughter Of the mother seals seeking the
rookeries TO be delivered Of their young. This
IS crime agains nature
That in view of this serious contention of this
government his lordship should assume that
another years suspension of such sealing is
not necessary to prevent an undue diminuton OF
an arbitration it shall 60 on precisely as if nc
arbitration had been agreed upon, is as sur.
prising as 1t is disappointing. II her majesty's
government so little respects the claims and
contentious Of this government as to be IN
willing tOfOrbear for a single season to disre.
gard them, the president cannot
understand why Lord Salisbury
should have proposed and agreed to give "a
those claims the dignity and standing which a
reference to high court Of arbitration implies
From the moment an arbitration wa, agreed
upon neither party was at liberty to disregard
the contentious Of the other. 1t must be as.
sumed that the sincere purpose Of the two GOV.
ernments was to promote peace and good will.
but II pending the arbitration either deals with
the subject Of it solely on the basis Of its own
contention and in utter disregard Of the claims
of the other, this friendly end is not
OWL not attained but a new sense of iniurv and
injustice is added, even if it should be found
possible to proceed with an arbitration under
such conditions. For it must not be forgotten
that, If her maiesty's government proceeds
during this sealing season upon the basis of its
contention as to the rights of the Canadian
sealers no choice is left to this government but
to proceed on the basis of its confident con.
tention that pelagic sealing in the Behring sea
is an infractiOn of its Jurisdiction and property
rights His lOrdship will hardly fail to see this.
Herein, in the opinion Of the president con.
slsts the gravity Of the present situation and
be IS not willing to be found in any degree re.
sponsible for the results that may follow the
lnslstence by either government during this
season upon the extreme rights claimed by il.
In his opinion il would discreiit in the ewes Of
the world the two great governments involved
II the paltry profits Of single season should
be allowed to thwart or even disturb the
honorable and friendly adjustment of heir
differences, which is so nearly concluded
but if his lordship shall adhere to his
refusal to unite with US in prompt
and effective measures to stop pelagic sealing
and shall insist upon free sealing for the British
subjects, the question as it affects this govern.
ment is no longer one Of pecuniary loss or gain.
but one Of honor and selfrespect.
The president finds 1t difficult TO believe that
Lord Salisbury is serious in proposing that this
government shall take separate bonds from the
owners of about 100 Canadian sealing vessels 10
indemnify it for the injury they may severally
inlet upon our iuris LECTION or property and
mus decline to discuss a suggestion which only
MS respect for Lord Salisbury and his belief
that his lOrdship has due appreciation of the
gravity of this discussion, enable him to treat
with seriousness. We should doubtless have to
pursue and capture upon the sea many of the
owners Of those vessels TO secure the bonds
suggested, and as the condition is to be that
the obligers shall pay "any damages which the
arbitratOrs may adjudge" while the treaty
gives the arbitrators no power 10 adiudge any
damages. that transaction would be without
risk to the ObligerS and Of no value TO us. This
government cannot consent to have what il be.
heves TO be its rights destroyed or impairel
pending their determination by an agreed trib-
unal, however adequate the security offered.
In closing Mr. Wharton saws:
The president directs me to say in conclu.
sion that the mOdus Of last years. the least this
government can accept In reason. the re.
straintS, after treaty Of arbitration should be
more absolute, not less He does not desire 10
protract this discussion, and having now IN the
most friendly spirit submitted the considcra.
tons which suHOrt the Just demand of this
government that the property which is the OBJ
jet Of an agreed arbitration shall not be sub
jet to a spoliatiOn pending the arbitra
ton, he expresses the hope that Lord Sails
bury will give prompt and friendly assent to
renew themodus. The president will hear with
regret that her maiesty's government continues
to assert a right to deal with this subject pre-
cisely as if no provision had been made for A
settlement Of the dispute: and in this event this
government as has already been pointed out
will be compelled to deal with the subject on
the same basis and to use every means in its
power to protect from destruction or seriou,
Injury property and iurisdictional rights which
1t has long claimed and enjoyed.