The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-04-02


WASHINGTON, March Following
is the answer to the note from Lord
Salisbury in seference to the Behring
sea question:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, -. c., March %, 1892, (
Sir-I am directed by the president to say
chat your note, dated the 10th instant, and de
lvcred ON Tic 20th instant Sunday, has had
his immediate attention in view OF what he
deems to be the extreme urgency and gravity
of the matter under discussion. The urgency
grows out Of the fact that much further pro-
traction of this discussion will make uny modus
that may he agreed upon Intellectual 10 protect
the interests Of the United States, and will ave
TO the Canadian scnlcrs practical immunity, by
reason of the impossibllity Of communicating 10
them the agreed restrictions. 1t is known to this
government that the sealers have hastened their
departure to escape notice of "a possible modus,
and that every day almost adds to the fleet that
must now be overhauled at sea. Already forty.
seven Canadian vessels have cleared for the seal.
ing grounds (aS against thirty-one Mt the same
date last year,, and are engaged in following up
and destroying the seal herds. These vessels
will If not stopped and turned back at the
passes, go into Behring sea and pursue to the
very shores Of our islands the slaughter OF the
mother seals, seeking the accustomed rookeries
TO be delivered OF their young. This is crime
against nature. This government expects to
show, II the arbitration proceeds, that female
pelagic sealors.
That in view OF this serious and confident
contention Of this government, his lordship
should assume that "another years suspension
of such sealing is not necessary to prevent an
, undue dimiuution OF the seal herds" and should
insist that pending an arbitration IT shall go
precisely as II no arbitration had been agreed
upon is as surprising as it is disappointing II
her majesty'S government so little respects the
claims and contentious of this government as to
M w fnph far eli 10 IN
disregard them, the president can not under.
stand why Lord Salisbury should have pro
posed and agreed to give to those claims the dig.
nifty and standing which reference to high
court Of arbitration implies.
FROM the moment an arbitration was agreed
upon, neither party at liberty 10 disregard
the contentious of the other. 1t must be as.
sumed that the sincere purpose Of the two gov
ernmQuts was to promote peace and good WILL
but, il pending the arbitration either deals with
the subject OF IL solely upon the basis of its
own contention and in utter disregard OF the
claims Of the other, this friendly end is not only
not attained, but new sense of injury and in
Justice Is added even II it should be found pos
sibe to proceed with an arbitration under such
conditions; for 1t must not be forgotten that IL
her majesty's government proceeds during this
sealing season upon basis of its contention as
to the rights of the Cananian sealers, no choice
is left to this government but to proceed upon
tho basis OF its confident contention that pelagic
bchilnB HI lHe DchIlhB Sch 10 an hIholion Vi lts
jurisdiction and property sights. His lordship
will hardly fail TO see this.
Herein, IN the opinion OF the president con.
6lsts the gravity OF the present sltuauoh' ana
ne Is not Wiling 10 be lound In any degree re-
Sponsible for the results that may follow the
ansstcnce oy elmer government curing ms
season upon the extreme rights claimed by it.
In his opinion ii would discredit in the eyes Of
the world the TWO great governments involved
II the paltry pronts OF Single season shoula
oe alloWeu 10 thWarI OF even 10 disturb 1he non
Orable ana 1rlehdly adjustment OF thelr uHer'
Sncest Whlch Is SO nearly cohcluueu put II ms
aordshlp shall adhere to MS refusal TO unite WIN
us III prompt ana eHectlVc measures 10 stop
pelaelc seailne, ana shall lnStst upon Tree scar
1ng Tor Brinsh suDJects' lhe question: us II
aHec's inns government ls no longer one OF
pecunlary loss or gam put one Oh hohor ana
self-respect.
rms government, Notwithstanding tne lact
that llS rlent 10 take seais upon the ffloyIol
lSiahus Is uhulsputeu ana "holly unhVolVeu IN IN
the arnTaIoii, mas proposed 10 take no pront
from lhe lslanu calcI, Out 10 limit the taxing Oh
SeaiS 70 Ie necesslties Vi the natives vi .hooo
1Siahos' anu IL can hot CONSENT thaV WIN III.
demnlty OF Wlthout' the contested rlghtS oi
oritish suoJeets 10 eaten schis III tne DoirlnB
sea SNAIL De eNerclseu peIulhs the arpitralloii'
Ihe president mas IL uilncult 10 DelleVe Inas
Loru SALISBURY Is serious IN proposing that thlS
government shall take separate nohus IRON the
owners OF ABOUT one hunureo Cahaolan seailhS
vessels TO indemnify IL lor me INJURY they may
sevcrally mlnGt upon our lurlsulcuon OF property
ana must aechne 10 ulscusS sugsesuoh Whch
only MS respect LOT Loru Sahsoury anu ms DC
llet tnat MS lordsnlp mas u uue appreciation Oh
the gravity OF thlS uscussioh' enhDleu nlln 10
treat with seriousness we shoulu uouDtiess
havc 10 pursue ana capture upon the sea many
ot the owners OF those vessels 10 secure tne
ponds sIggesteu' anu as the cohuuoh u 10 ne
ahat the ohlgors snail pay any damages whlch
the arolTaors may adluoge' while the treaty
gives me aroitrators no power TO aoluoge any
damages, the transaction would &c Wlthoul FISK
10 lhe opilSors, anu ol ho Naiuc W No.
AS to ms lordsnlps suggestion thaI Cahauiah
asealers may have some claim Tor compensation
II Great Britain snail restrain pelaglc seahhg,
the president desires me to say that ne Is not
able 20 see how the citizens or SUBJECTS OF elther
of the treaty powers can, by any RUE OF law or
equity support any claim against thelr respect-
i've governments growing out OF such necessary
trade restraints as the governments may law
fully impose to promote the larger conditions OF
ihe puDhc good ana lntcrnatoha peace.
sf the present treaty Is promptly rauhed ana
ayn,,ie ouarantee against delav The president
has found no obstacle in the way of such a con
summation except the belief now unfortunately
revnlet mere ere .nst ne oT tSo status ono Of
tbe property during the arbitration and hor in
hall NlNa