The morning news., 1892-03-27
ENGLAND AND THE SEALS
WHY SALISBURY REFUSES TO RE
NEW THE MODUS.

try AS Possible-He Also Wishes to
Appear Well In the Eyes of Canada.
WASHINGTON, March ga member of
the cabinet said to-day that he saw no rea-
son for supposing that the present compli-
cations with Great Britain, in regard to the
seal fisheries, viii not be settled amicably.
He added that it would be the hight of folly
for two countries having so much in COM
mon to quarrel over a matter they have
agreed to settle by arbitration. He felt
confident that Great Britain will either con-
sent to a renewal of the modus vivendi of
last year, or that II she does not do this she
will not interfere with or resist the eff orts
of this government to preserve the seals,
pending arbitration proceedingT. 1t is said
at the state department that nothing has
been heard from Lord Salisbury iu response
Co Assistant Secretary Whartons note of
March ~. 1t is very evident however,
that the officials will be disappointed il
reply is not received in a few days.
One result Of the discussion of the Beriug
sea arbitration treaty by the Senate in ex-
ecutive session during the past week has
been to clear up good deal Of misappre-
hension in the minds Of a majority OK the
senators as to the points involved In the
dispute between the United States and Great
Britain. 1t would have been we'll, accord
ing to one of the most broad
minded and far-sighted senators who has
taken part in the debates, If the public
could have been fully informed upon these
points, for popular ignorance upon them, il
appears, prevails in England as we'll as in
the United States il the editorial comments
OF London newspapers are to be taken as q
guide.
ONE OF THE POPULAR ERRORS.
For instance the suggestion is thrown out
by an English paper that the objections
made by Lord Salisbury to a renewal of the
modus. vivendi would be completely
United States to pay any damages
sustained by sealing vessel owners IN the
event that the arbitrators decide that the
claim of the United States to jurisdiction is
not well founded. The same view has been
expressed in the Senate in the course of the
debate, but few senators who were in
formed as to what has already taken place,
have called attention TO the fact that this
question has already been fully discussed
by the department. of state and Lord Sails
bury. AS far back as last June the Presi-
dent, through Assistant Secretary Whar~
ton, suggested that the question of the lia-
btlity OF each government for damages
Inflicted upon their citizens or prop
erty be left to the decision of the
was much correspondence, the British
government in effect declining to commit
itself to the doctrine that il was respouSible-
for the acts OF Its subjects which, In the
language Of Lord Salisbury, "involves a
proposition that her majesSy's government
are liable to make good the losses resulting
from wrong action of persons sailing out
side of their Jurisdiction under the British
flag"
STAND OF THIS COUNTRY.
The United States government had been
damages, but insisted that If 1t were to be
submitted should also include de-
termination OF the loss inflicted
upon the United States through
illegal killing Of seals by British subjects.
AS the correspondence on this point
threatened to be protractsd SO long that the
arbitration treaty could not be completed
this season the President finally consented
to a modification Of his proposition, which
was included 10 the treaty, permitting the
two governments to submit to arbitration
questions Of facts bearing upon the claims
for damages, leaving TO future determina-
ton the question of liability. At this point
the damage question rested at the date Of
the signature OF the treaty and IL has not
since been touched upon in the correspond
ence. These facts have been set out by
members OF the committee on foreign
relations and other senators In answer
to the arguments of certain senators
that the British government would doubles
consent TO a renewal Of the modus vivendi
if it could insure Canadians against any loss
from illegal seizure of their vessels. 1t was
argued on the part of the senators that as
Great Britain had made an agreement with
the government of Sweden and Norway for
the protection OF seals on the coasts of those
countries, and also consented to an agree
ment with France looking to regulation of
the fisheries in the north sea, she would be
willing to enter into any fair arrangements
with the United States of the same nature.
sALIsBURY's CHANGE OF FRONT.
In this connection some extracts from the
correspondence were quoted as evidence of
Lord Salisburv's original ideas upon the
subject. When the modus vivendi was
negotiated last year he said to the House of
Lords: Formerly seals were common on
the coasts of South America and those of
the Falkland Islands; now they are hardly
to be found there. 1t seems to
US on the whole that the proposition is
a reasonable one, and we should be In
currinR the oensure. not only of the
United States, but of the civilized world il
by adhering too closely to any technical
right we should run the risk Of the destruc-
ton of this valuable industry aud Of this
valuable animal" There has been much
speculation in the Senate as to the sudden
change Of mind by Lord Salisbury in this
respect His ostensible reason for his re-
fusal to renew the modus vivendi Is the
representations Of the commissioners sen t
to Alaska last summer by his government
that there was no necessity for its renewal
sALIsBURY's REAL REASONS.
The real reasons, however, are believed
by a number OF senators TO be, first, a dis
position to use his present position to full
advantage in securing concessions from the
United States upon other points in the con-
troversy such, for instance. as claims for
damages which remain unsettled second, to
favorably impress Canada with an apparent
disposition to heed her demands; aud third,
to avail himself Of the present oppor-
tunity to retaliate upon this government for
its alleged infraction of the spirit Of the
modus vivendi last year in permitting the
North American Commercial Company to
kill more than the z 500 seals permitted by
the terms OF that agreement. It is believed
that these reasons will so far influence Lord
Salisbury as TO prevent renewal Of the
modus vivendi in the same terms as the last
document but not 20 determine him to re-
sort TO force TO protect the sealers, for whose
actions he has declined TO assume RESPONSE
bility.
CONGRATULATIONS for Mills