Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-03-25
MoDUs VIvENDI.
The Correspondence Officially
Published.

WASHINGTON, March 25.-The
correspondence received from the
president relative to Behring sea
has been made public. The first
communication is from Dir Julian
Pauncefote to Wharton under date
Of March 10Th, stating that he had
received the reply from Lord Sails
bury, who again points out that the
information in possession of her
majesty's government does not lead
them to believe that another years
suspension of sealing is necessary to
prevent undue dimunition of the
seal herds. His lordship, however,
proceeds to observe that, beyond this
question, it is considered by your
government that they have right
to be protected from loss they may
incur from free sealing this year, in
the event of their claims being up
held by arbitrators.
March 22d, Mr.. Wharton replied:
"I am directed by the president to
say that your note of the 10th inst.
has had his immediate attention in
view of what he deems the extreme
urgency and gravity of the matter.
The urgency grows out Of the fact
that further protection makes any
modus Intellectual to protect the IN
terests of the United States, and
gives Canadian sealers practical i'm
munity. 1t is known to this govern
ment that sealers have fastened
their departure to escape notice of a
possible modus, and every day
almost adds to the fleet that must
now be overhauled at sea. Already
forty-seven Canadian vessels have
cleared for the sealing grounds, as
against thirty-one at the same date
last year, and they are engaged in
following up and destroying seal
herds. No choice is left this govern
ment but to proceed upon the basis
of its confident intention that pelagic
sealing in Behring sea is an infric
ton on its jurisdiction and property
rights. His lordship will hardly
fail to see this. Herein, in the
opinion of the president, consists the
gravity of the situation, and he is not
willing to be found in any degree
responsible for the results that may
follow the insistence by either gov
ernment during this season upon
the extreme rights claimed by it.
In his opinion it would discredit in
the eyes of the world the two great
governments involved if the paltry
profits of a single season should b.
allowed to thwart or even disturb
an honorable and friendly adjust
ment of their differences, so nearly
concluded, but if his lordship shall
adhere to his refusal to unite with
us in prompt and effective meas
ures 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 of honor
and self-respect. This government
cannot consent that, with indem-
nifty or without contested rights, the
privilege of British subjects to catch
seals in Behring sea shall be exer-
cised pending arbitration"
In conclusion, Mr.. Wharton says:
"The president directs me to say
that the modus of last year is the
least the government can accept.
The president will hear with regret
that her majesty's government con
tinues to assert the right to deal
with this subject precisely as if no
provisions had been made for a set =.
tlement of the dispute, and in that
event this government, as has al
ready been pointed out, will be COM
PEELED to deal with the subject upon
the same basis and use every means
in its power to protect from destruc-
ton or sources of injury the proper
ty aud jurisdictional rights which
it has long claimed and enjoyed