Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-25

At the regular meeting of the cabinet today
Che Beriug sea situation furnished the prn
eipal il not the sole matter for discussion
II is generally admitted, however, that NJ
definite action was taken inssmuch as th'
correspondence has all been sent to the Senate
and as yet 70 answer has been received from
Of the I'D instant
Tor the frst time since the negotiations
have reached such critical stage the entire
cabinet was present at the meeting. The
illness Of Secretary Blaine has prevented
his attendance ever since the Presidents
return from his recent trip to Virginia Beach
and Ragged Island. II was not generally ex-
pected that he would be present today. but a
few minutes after 11s30, the usual hour Tor
meeting, Q two-horse carriage drove up 10
the front entrance of the White House and WI.
Blaine stepped out He looked considerably
better than one would have expected ana
showed few traces Of his illness
He entered the main door OF the
White House, but went up the private
staircase TO the second floor. The other
members of the cabinet were all In
their seats around the table when the
Secretary of State entered the cabinet and he
received q warm welcome and congratulations
on the improvement in his condition.
no CHANGE IN THz SITUATION
TIE meeting not q long one. as it lasted
but little over an hour. The general opinion
today seems to be that the situation has changed
but little from What IL was last week
and prior to she receipt of tine most
recent Communication from the British minis
ter. The President still insists on q renewal OF
the modus yivendi as a necessary part OF the
negotiations for submitting the question OF
jurisdiction to arbitration. The British
Soysrnment on the other hand holds to its po-
sitioE that the preservation of the seal does
make necessary the renewal Of the modus- In
. sense this 10 regarded as an evasion of tine
main point at issue. This is shown. it Is
claimed. in Sir Julians letter. where he says:
Lord Salisbury again points ont that the IN
formation in the possession Of her majesty s
government does not lead them to believe that
another years suspension of sealing Is neces-
sary TO prevent an undue diminutIon of the seal
herds.
NO DIRECT REFUSAL
Still this 10 not direct refusal TO agree 10 a
modus and until Lord Salisbury either agrees
or refuses absolutely to agree it is
difficult to see what step the ex-
ecutive will take next III. as has
been claimed in some quarters. Lord salisbury S
main object Is to gain time In or''.r that the
modus if agreed to. will be practica ly mop
erative it begins to look though
he had gained his point The Senate. in its
action upon the arbitration treaty, Is the
place to look for news in the matter now.
POSITION OF AMERICAN VESSELS
II is interesting. perhaps, to note the posi-
ton Of the American vessels in the North Pa
cifc now in the light of the Presidents state
meni in the last paragraph of his letter that
this government will be compelled to
deal with the subject upon the same ba-
sis and TO use every means IN Its
power to protect from destruction or serious
injury property and jurisdictional rights which
it has long claimed and enjoyed"
The Baltimore is at san Francisco, the
Charleston 10 at San Diego, the Yorktown is on
the way to San Francisco, the Boston is at
La Libertad route to San Francisco. the
Adams and Ranger are at San Fran
cisco and the Mohican at Port Orchard
The Tag ship San Francisco is at Honolulu.
the revenue cutters Rush and Bear are at
San Francisco, the Corwin and Alba
tross are on their way to patrol
the Alaskan coas. south Of Boring sea, with a
view il is said. to the prevention of sealing
within the three mile limit
AN USFoUNDED RCMoR.
member of the cabinet was the authority
for q statement made this afternoon that there
was no truth in the rumor that Russia had for
mally notified this country Of her intention to
cooperate in the work Of preserving the seals
In Boring sea-