The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-24
PERIL OF POACHERS.
United States Will Certainly
Protect Boring Sea.
HARRISON NOTIFIES SALISBURY.
The President Gives . Plain Answer to
the nightmare Equivocsting Let
ter-Canadian Claims for Damages.

VICTORIA, March 8-rSpecial BE
tween thirty and forty claims Of British
Columbia seaIers for damages aggregating
half a million dollars have been forwarded
to the department of marine q. Ottawa in
compliance with the proclamation request
ing claims for compensation tor loss occa-
stoned by the expulsion OF sealers from
Bering sea under the modus vivenGi-
WAsHISGIoS CITY, March Z.-The
Bering sea correspondence was laid before
the Senate in executive session at noon.
Tie reading of Salisbury's note refusing
to consent to renewal of the modus
vivendi and making q counter PROPOSE
ton was received with Unsurpassed
irritation by the Senate. The note
is evasive and equivocating. The presi-
dents rejoinder broadly hints that Sails
bury has not met the overtures in
straightforward manner, insists on q re-
newal OF the modus vivendi without refer
ence to Insignificant or irrevelent
conditions. and closes with the
stirring assertion that if Great Britain
declines to assist in protecting seals dur
ing the arbitration he will proceed 10 in
force the laws and exclude the poachers
from Bering sea, if the military force of
the United States is requir. d 70 accom-
plish It The note created q sensation in
the Senate. After half an hours discus
sion the correspondence was referred to
the committee on foreign relations.
The gravity OF the case led to renewal
of the strongest efforts OF the senators to
prevent the public from being made ac-
quainted with the facts until the CORE
spondence had progressed further. There
was no expression of opinion by the
president in the letter Of transmittal,
but this was not needed. His
views were clearly defined in the position
assumed by him in the rejoinder TO Sails
bury, which appeared 10 meet with the
unanimous approval Of the senator's, al
though the debate itself was too short to
disclose the official standing OF the sem
ators, and there has been nothing in the
nature of direct vote upon the treaty
of arbitration, but there is q vell-defned
opposition to it as surrender by the
United States of her rights as acquired by
treaty from Russia. II can be stated that
the treaty may soon be ratified by the
Senate. but q resolution viii accompany it
reciting that there does not appear TO
be any sufficient reason for abatement by
the United States of its claims to jurisdic-
ton pending arbitration, and authorizing
the president to use all the military arms
of the government TO insure the protec-
ton Of the rights Of the United States.
Lard Salisbury does not in his note re-
fuse TO enter into q modus vivendi of some
kind. but. automatically speaking. he fails
TO consent TO the proposition made by
this government Inasmuch as the
Senate has refused 70 make the
correspondence public, it is difficult TO ges
a clear idea OF the points intended to be
conveyed, but undoubtedly the i'm
preston generally conveyed was
that Lord Salisbury refused to
renew last years arrangement.
It can be stated that there
is nothing in the nature Of an ultimatum
on the part Of either government in the
correspondence laid before the Senate. Is
is still considered incomplete, but
underlying the formal phaseology
Of diplomacy is IN evident intention on
the part Of this government 20 bring the
matter 70 a point OF definite determination
before the sealing season Is far advanced
The presidents reply, il IS thought, viii
greatly tend TO the attainment Of the
desired result.
LospoS. March 25.-The CAroRicle says:
The Bering sea case looks like dangerous
deadlock The diplomacy Of President
Harrison's reply Is hard 10 grasp. partic-
ularly coming from 8 nation that Is pro-
fessed admirer OF peace