The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-25

no arbitration had been AIRED Inon il
as surprising as IL is Disappointing
=, II ner majesty's government so little respects
tne claims and contentious Of this government
rs % De unwilling TO forbsar for single season
l 70 uLsresard ttem, the President cannot under
stand why Lord Salisbury should have proposed
and standing which the reference to a high
court OF arbitration implies. From the mo-
ment an Arbitration was agreed upon neither
ns co Tas At liberty to disregard
must be assumed that the sincere
purpose OF the two governments was TO pro-
mote peace and good Will. but il pending arbi-
tration, either deals with the subject Of IL solely
/ upon the basis Of its own contention and in ut
/ ter disregard OF the claims of the other, this
friendly end is not only not attained. but new
ssnsS Of INJURY and injustice is added. even if it
/ should De found possible to proceed with an ar
| oltFatlon under such conditions, for IL must
not be forgotten that IL her maiesty's govern
ment proceeds during this sealing
season upon the basis Of its contention as to the
right of Canadian sealers. no choice is left to
this government but TO proceed upon the basis
OF its confident contention that pelagic sealing
IN Berlng sea is an i1fractiOa of its jurisdiction
ana property rights His lordship will hard y
Iail 70 see this. Herein, in the opinion of the
President, consists the gravity Of the present
situation, and he is not willing
sponsible for the results that may
| follow the insistence by either government
during this season upon the extreme rights
claimed by It.
WOULD DIscREDIr BOTH GOVERNMENTS.
In his opinion it would dlscredit in the eyes of
tne world the two great governments involved
II the paitry profits Of a single season should
Dc allowed 70 thwart or even to disturb the
honorable add friendly adjustment OF their
but IL his lordship shall adhere to his
refusal to unite with us in prompt
and effective measures to stop peagic
sealing and shall insist upon free sealing Tor
act affa ~.
government. is no longer one of pecuniary loss
or GAIN but one of honor aud self-respect This
government, notwithstanding the fact thar It's
right to take seals upon the Pribylov Islands is
undisputed and wholly uninvolved in arbitra-
ton. has proposed to take no profit from the
island catch. but to limit the taking of seals to
the necessities of the natives of those islands,
ana IL cannot consent that with indemnity or
without the contested rights of British subjects
10 catch seals in Boring sea shall be exercised
pending arbitration.
sALIsBURY's STRANGE PROPOSITION.
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 to
indemnity It for the injury they may severalIy
intllct upon our jurisdiction or property, and
only his respect for Lord Salisbury
and his belief that his lordship
has due appreciation of the gravity
OF the discussion enable him to treat it with
sue and capture upon the sea many owners of
these vessels to secure the bonds suggested
and as condition is that the obligors shall pay
ANY damages which the arbitrAtors may ad-
judge, while the treaty gives the arbitrators
no power to adjudge any damages the trans
action would be without risk TO the obigors
and OF no value to us. This govern
ment cannot consent to have what
it believes to be its rights
destroyed or impaired pending their determine
ton by an agreed tribunal, however adequate
the security offered. The reference In nv last
note to the inconsistency of her majesty's gov
eminent in denying responsibility for the acts
OF Canadian seRlers, was not intended to sug-
gest Willingness on our part under any cir
cumstanceS to zee our property converted into
claim for damages, aud particularly as such
claim cannot now be heard or determined by
the arbitrators without reformation or treaty,
for his lordship must remember that while he
now offers what he mistakenly calls security
for satisfying any damages which the arbi-
traitors may adiudge," he has already
carried his point in the treaty that
the arbitration shall have no Jurisdiction 10
award any damages As to bis lordship's sug-
gestion. that Canadian sealers may have some
claim for compensation if Great Britain shall
restrain pelagic sealing the President directs
me Co say that he Is not able to see now citizens
or subjects OF either of the treaty powers can
by any rule of law or equity support any claim
against their respective governments. growing
governments may lawfully impose to promote
larger conditions Of public good and interna-
tional peace.
The suggestion that the conclusions of the
board of arbitration may not be reached, and
announced in time to govern the conduct OF the
parties during the season OF 1898 Is, I think
fully provided against by the treaty itself. His
lordship is mistaken as to the time that has
elapsed since the signing of the Deagoa bay
agreement with Portugal It is not four years
old, but less than one the date Of signing being
June 10, 1891.
If the present treaty is promptly ratified and
exchanged, our mutual interest would be an
ample guarantee against delay. The President
has found no obstacle in the way Of
such contamination except the belief now
unfortunately prevalent here that the refusal
Of Great Britain TO agree to the preservation of
the status quo of the property during the arbi-
tration and her insistence that Pelagic sealing
shall go on to the injury, If not the destruction,
Of our rights largely defeats the object of the
treaty. The President directs me to say in CON
clusion that the modus of last year is the least
that this government can accept. In reason.
tho restraints, after the treaty Of arbitration,
should be more absolute. not less He does
not not desire TO protract this discus
friendly spirit submitted the considerations
which support the just demand of this govern
ment that property which is the subject of an
agreed arbitration shall not be subject to spolia
ton pending arbitration, he expresses hope
that Lord Salisbury will give prompt and
friendly assent to renew the modus The Presi-
dent will hear with regret that her majesty's
government continues to assert the right 60 deal
been made for a settlement of the dispute
and in that event this government, as
has already been pointed out. will
be compelled to deal with the subject upon the
same basis, and to use every means in its power
to protect from destruction or serious injury
the property and jurisdictionsl rights which it
has long claimed and enjoyed. l have the honor
to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
obedient servant,
WILLIAM r. WHARTON
Acting Secretary.
The President transmitted this cor
respondence to congress without comment.
MOVEMENTS OBJ BRITISH wARsHIPs.
LONDON, March PA dispatch from
Victoria, B. c., to Reuters Telegram Agency
says It is reported that Rear Admiral Hol
man, commander~in-chief of the British
station, sent cable dispatch to Esquimalt
that the warships Nelpomene, Champion
and Warprite have started Cor EsQuimalt.
and that they will reach there on May l,
two months earlier than the time
previously arranged for arrival. The War
spite and Melpomene are now in Chilean
waters This sudden change in the DISPOSE
ton of the ships has caused no little com
ment, and Is taken to indicate serious
phase in the Boring sea dispute.
CAUSING UNEAsINEss.
LONDON, March IS, 3 A. M.-The Times
says: 1.-The possibility of further complicar
lions with America over the BerIng sea
question is causing uneasIness among
members of the House of Commons
who have special knowledge of Ameri-
can affairs. Private information has been