Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-04-01
GAVE HIS TAIL A TWIST.
The Great American Eagle POunces
Upon the british Lion aud
Gives Him Some Pointers.
Correspondence Between the State
Department and Lord Salisbury
Given TO the Public.
The Latter's Contention Met by Oyer
Wheiming Arguments.--'sWe VIII
Protect Our Seals.,,


States and Great Britain since the request
made by Acting Secretary of State Whar-
| ton Tor the rene wal of the modus vivendi
has been made public. The reply of Lord
Salisbury, through Sir Julian Pauncetote,
| British minister, was in substance of
| follows:
Lord Salisbury again points out that
the information in the possession of her
maiesty's government does not lead them
TO believe that another years suspension
OF sealing is necessary to prevent an undue
dminuton of the seal herds" While the
United States considers that they have
the right to he protected from the loss
which would be incurred from free seal
ing. II their claim to Behring sea was
upheld by the arbitrators England does
not dispute that after the convention was
ratified such claim would have foundation.
But prohibition of all sealing would give
ground for complaint from British sailors
IL England's claims were upheld. There
being no security that the arbitratc n
would be concluded before the sealing sea-
son of 1898 serious damage would be
caused to the industry. by suspension
OF sealing for long period. In view of
all the above considerations it appears
that it would be more equitable to provide
that sealing in Behr!ng sea shall continue
on the condition that the owner of every
sealing vessel shall give security for salts
Tying any damages which the arbitrator
may adjudge.
The reply of Mr.. Wharton TO this COM
municaton contained the following: The
President gave immediate attention to this
matter which he considers Of m ach urgency
and gravity. The urgency grows out of
the fact that much further protraction of
this discussion will make any modus that
may be agreed upon Intellectual to protect
the interests Of the United States and will
give to the Canadian sealers practical i'm
munity, by reason OF the impossibility
of communicating to them the agreed
restrictions. Sealers are departing daily
for the grounds and will have to be over
hauled at sea. Forty-seven vessels are
now following up and destroying the seal
herds, and if not stopped will pursue to the
very shores of our islands, the mother seals
seeking their accustomed rookeries to be
delivered of their young. This is regarded
as a crime against nature. 1t is surprising
and disappointing that with the serious
contention pending, that his lordshlp
should insist that the slaughter should con-
tlnue and so little regard paid to the
claims Of this government and the request
for discontinuance for at least one season.
If England continues in the line of it's con-
tention this government must protect the
heterogeneous upon its jurisdiction and
property rights. 1t would bring discredit,
in the eyes OF the world, to two great gov
ernments if the paltry profits of single
season should be allowed to thwart, or
even to disturb the honorable and friendly
adjustment of their differences, which is
so nearly concluded; but if his lordship
shall adhere to his refusal to unite with US
in prompt and effective measures to stop
pelagic sealing, and shall insist upon free
sealing for British subjects, the question
as it effects this government is no longer
one of pecuniary loss or gain, but one of
honor and self-respect This government
is willing to limit the catch upon its I'M
disputed territory TO the necessities of the
natives OF the islands, and it cannot con-
sent that with indemnity or without the
contested rights OF British subjects to
catch seals in the Behring Sea shall be
exercised pending the arbitration.
In order to take bonds from the owners
of the 100 vessels to indemnify it for the
injury they may infiict this government
would have to pursue and capture many of
them and even then the bonds would be
valueless as the arbitrator have no power
to adjust damages, as was suggested.
Thus money indemnity is impossible. AS
to the claims Of Canadian sealers, it is not
clear to see how the citizens or subjects
Of either of the treaty powers can by any
rule of law or equity support any claim
against their respective government grow
ing out of such necessary trade restraints
as the government may lawfully impose to
promote the larger conditions of the public
good and international peace
In conclusion the modus of last year is
the least that this government can accept.
In reason, the restraints, after a treaty of
arbitration, should be more absolute, not
less. 1t is not desired to protract this
discussion, and this government as has
already been pointed out, will be compelled
to deal with the subject upon the same
basis and to use every means in its power
to protect from destruction or serious in
jury property and iurisdictional rights
which is has long claimed and enjoyed.
Salisbury Refuses the NIodus yivendi.
Lord Salisbury has replied TO President
Harrison's latest note on the Behring sea
matter. He still refuses to renew the
modus vivendi. but says that notice has
been given to owners of ships sailing for
Behring sea that both agreements at pres
ent under discussion between Great
Britain and the United States--tbat as to
arbitration and that as to an intermediate
arrangement-may affect the liberty Of
sealing in Behring sea. They lave, there
fore, notice of their liability to possible in
terruption. and will sail subject to that no.
tice. The question Of time is not there
fore, urgent. He says: 1--WE are willing
when the treaty has been ratified to an Az
rangement similar to that Of last year II
the United States will consent that the ar
bitrators should in the event of a decision
adverse to the United States, assess the
damages which the prohibition of sealing
shall have inflicted on British eaers dur
ing the reudency of the arbitration and,
in the advent of decision adverse to
Great Britain, should assess the damages
which the limitation of slaughter shall,
during the tendency of arbitration, have
inflicted on the United States or its
lessees."
Eight hundred quarrymen have quit
work in the brown stone quarries at Port
land, Conn. They ask 20 cents an hour
for nine hours work instead Of 10.
Murdoch McT<lnnon was found In a
queer predicament near North Burns,
Huron county. He was leaning against
n IA n