The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-04-08
United States Senate Ratifies
the Arbitration Treaty
Unanimously,
Both Nations Agree on Renew
ing the M0dus Viyendi

Up to March % the Behring Sea
matter seemed to be increasing in
seriousness. On the 25th cores
| pondence between the two Govern
ments was published. A note from
Lord Salisbury argued that another
years suspension of sealing was not
necessary to prevent the diminution
side prevailed in the arbitration, the
British sealers would have grounds
to claim compensation for loss by
their prevention from sealing. Lord
Salisbury proposed that sealing
should continue on condition that the
owner of every sealing vessel should
give security for satisfying any dam
ages the arbitrator might adiudge.
President Harrison's reply regard
ed the matter of renewing the modus
vivendi as one of urgency from the
fact that further protracton would
make any modus Intellectual to pro-
tect the interests of the United
States and would give the Canadian
sealers practical immunity, by reason
of the practical impossibility of com
municating to them the agreed re-
strictions. Forty-seven Canadian
sealers, as against 81 at the same
time last year, had hurried off to the
grounds in order to avoid receiving
any notice of renewal of the modus.
The President could not under
stand why, if the British Government
so little respected the claims of the
American, Lord Salisbury should
have proposed to give those claims
the dignity of being subject for
arbitration. From the moment arbi-
tration was agreed on neither party
was at liberty to disregard the con-
tentions of the other. This was where
the President regarded the matter as
serious. If the British Government
proceeded this season on the basis of
its contention as to the rights Of the
Canadian sealers, no choice was left
the American Government but to pro-
coed on the basis of it's contention
that pe!agic sealing in the Behring
Sea was an infraction of its jurisdic-
uioI hbb plopSlO1 i NC CS-
ident was not willing to be found in
any degree responsible for the results
that might follow the insistence by
either Government this season on the
extreme rights claimed by it. In his
opinion it would discrediL in the eyes
of the world the two great govern
ments involved if the paltry profits
of a single season should be allowed
TO thwart or even disturb the honor
able and friendly adjustment of their
differences so nearly concluded.
In conclusion the President said
he would learn with regret that Her
Majesty's Government continued to
assert the right to deal with the sub
ject precisely as if no provision had
been made for the settlement of the
dispute, and in that event his Gov
eminent would be compelled to deal
with the subject on the same basis,
and use every means in its power TO
protect from destruction or serious
in ury the property and jurisdic-
tional rights which it has long claim
ed and enjoyed
Lord Salisbury under date of the
Goth sent reply to the American
note. 1t was of so conciIatory q
tone that it gave great satisfaction
in Washington. He agreed to re-
newal of the modus vivend when
ever the treaty was ratified if the
United States would agree, in the
event of arbitration going against
that country, to have the arbtratoTs
assess the damages to British sealeIs
by prohibition of their industry
Great Britain would prohibit sealing
in the disputed waters, if vessels
were excepted which produced certi-
flcates that they had given security
for such damages as might be as
sessed in case of decision adverse
to Great Britain.
Lord knutsford, Colonial Secre-
tary, cabled to Canada a warming to
masters and owners of sealing YES
sells, that if they went into the dis
puted waters it would be at their
own risk.
The tone of the English press
throughout was generally opposed to
going to extremes. Great pressure
was brought to bear on President
Harrison from the capitalists of Nea
York to go slow, as they declared
} that a belief in the imminence of wal
would produce a financial panic il
AZ hours.
On March 28th the Senate after
, discussion unanimously ratified Tho
J Behring Sea arbitration treaty. Al
! amendment by Sherman was adopted
: providing that the proceedings in thu
arbitration conference should be il
English.