Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-04-01
The Correspondence in the Behring
Sea Matter Made Pub
lie.
The Senate Will Support the Presi-
dent in Any Course He May
Pursue
For the Protection Of the Property
and Rights Involved in the
Arbitration.
Behring Sea Matter.

bury may enew the modus vivendi,
keep his hands off while the United
States protects its property and juris-
diction and rights in Behring sea or
have a fight on his hands. That is the
summary of the situation in the senate
at the close of an executive session
nearly four hours long. 1t began at
about l o'clock and ended shortly be-
fore s.
Senator Sherman, chairman of the
committee on foreign relations, report
ed the treaty providing for the arbitra-
ton Of the Behring sea matter to the
senate with a recommendation that it
be ratified. He supported the report
with a speech of some length, contend
ing that the treaty should be ratified in
order to carry out the programme en-
tered upon by the United States govern
ment when it agreed to refer its claims
to arbitration. In addition to the re-
port on the treaty, Mr.. Sherman re-
ported a resolution in line with the ar
gument put forth by the president in
his response to Salisbury's latest sug-
gestion that having submitted the case
to arbitration, the senate
Would support the President
in any course he might adopt for pro-
tecting the property and rights involved
in the arbitration. This, it was argued,
would commend itself to the good judy
ment of the people, not only of this
country but of all countries. Mr.. Sher-
man was followed by Morgan and
Bray, of the committee, who agreed
with him that the government ought to
protect its property pending arbitra-
ton.
Messes. Frey, Chandler, Teller, But
her, Pugh and others were outspoken
against the treaty, stating, it is said,
that unless the treaty provided for a
renewal Of the modus vivendi they
would not vote for it, and if the treaty
failed for that reason they were willing
to abide the consequence. Senators
from the several Southern states gave
utterance to equally earnest sentiments,
but there WAS . general expression that
the United States could not afford to
treat Great Britain any differently from
what it did Chill, because of any al
legged superiority of it's navy. The re-
port that the English squadron had
been ordered to proceed to Behring sea
was mentioned and commented on in
this connection. M
One thing was made manifest in the
afternoon which was that anything the
president determined to do for the pro-
testion of the seals and the maintenance
of u claims pending arbitration,
would meet the approval of the senate.
No action was taken on the treaty or
the resolution.
The Correspondence.
At the close of the executive session
of the senate the correspondence be-
tween Lord Salisbury and the state de.
partment was given to the public. In
the course of Sir Julian's note he says:
Lord Salisbury again points out that
the information in the possession of her
majesty's government does not lead
them to believe that another years sus-
pension of sealing is necessary to pre-.
vent an undue diminution of the seal
herds.
Lord Salisbury then goes on to sug.
gest that in case any agreement for the
current year is made the United States
should guarantee damages for loss in
CURED by Canadian seslers in case arbi-
traitors should decide against the United
States. He further states that the
United States might indemnify itself
against loss by taking bonds from Cana.
dian vessel owners to satisfy any dam.
age the arbitrators might adjudge.
The PEesident's Reply.
The most important portions Of the
answer to Lord Salisbury's note is con.
tanned in the following paragraphs:
That in view Of this serious and con.
fdent contention of this government hie
lordship should assume that another
years suspension Of such sealing is not
necessary "to prevent an undue diminu.
ton Ct the seal herds" and should insist
that pending an arbitration it shall 20
on, precisely as if no arbitration had
been agreed upon, is as surprising as il
is disappointing. If her majesty's gov.
eminent 80 little respects the claims
and contentious Of this government as
to be unwilling to forbear for a single
season to disregard them, the president
cannot understand why Lord Salisbury
should have proposed and agreed ia
give to those claims the dignity and
standing which a reference to a high
court of arbitration implies.
From the moment an arbitration was
agreed upon neither party was at lib
erty to disregard the contentious of the
other. 1t must be assumed that the
sincere purpose Of the two governments
was to promote peace and good will, but
If, pending the arbitration, either deals
with the subject of it solely upon the
basis of it's own contention and in utter
disregard Of the claims of the other.
this friendly end is not only not at.
tanned, but a new sense of injury and
injustice is added, wen if it should be
found possible to proceed with an arbi-
trstion under such conditions.
For it must not be forgotten that, II
her majesty's government proceeds dur
ing this sealing season upon the basis Of
its contention a. to the rights of the
Canadian sealers, no choice is left to