The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-04-13
TEE TREATY RATIFIED; .
The Senate Assents to tho
Bering Sea Arbitration.
Method by Which the Difficulty
is to be Settled.


arbitration In tho settlement Of the differ
ences between Great Britain and the United
States over the jurisdiction of the Bering
SEA- has besn ratified by the Senate, at
Washington, bv unanimous vote.
The secret session which resulted In the
four o'clock-and was Of tho quiet, consery.
alive character.
Its detail Is Of little interest, in view OF
tho ratification. Shortly after tho doors
were closed q call Of the Senate was ordered,
and an unusually largo number Of Senators
answered to their names, the number being
increased to seventy-two when the vote on
the treaty was taken.
There was some general discussion con-
cerniug the perfection OF the treaty, and Mr..
Sherman announced that the propositions
made by some Senators at previous sessions
that tho arbitration proceedings should be
conducted In English had met with favor
able response from Lord Salisbury.
The treaty does not sHpulste the language
in which the proceedings shall be conducted.
Mr.. Sherman said that tho suggestion that
they be conducted In English had been COM
municated to Sir Julian Paunceforte the
British Minister, who replied that he had no
objection, but .Prccsrref to communicate
With his own Government before agreeing
toit.
This he did and Lord Salisbury approved.
After Mr.. Sherman made this statement the
treaty was amended so that English should
be the language used in the conduct Of tho
proceedings.
There was some discussion over article XII
Of the treaty, which provides that ''the de-
cision of the tribunal shall, il possible, be
made within three months from the close Of
the arpument on both sidesD !!
Several Senators thought the time allowed
for decision should be longer, and as there
was no objection to this the time was eI-
tended to four months.
After discussion over these points and
some others Of minor Importance, the treaty
was ratified without further change and
without the passage Of any resolutionl by an
the President Of Its ratification and renov-
ing the injunction Of secrecy from the vote,
were adopted.
A well-informed Washington correspond
ent writes; The unconditional ratification,
Of the treaty leaves President Harrison free
now to complete arrangements with Lord
Salisbury for new modus vivendi on terms
which will doubtless be satisfactory to both
Governments 1t is the Presidents inten-
ton to accept substantially the first PROPOSE.
tion Of Lord Salisbury's nots Of March 8th,
stated as follows:
We are, however, willing when the treaty
has been ratified, to agree to an arrangement
similar to that of last year, II the United
States will consent that the arbitrato tors
should, In the event OF decision adverse to
the United States assess the damages which
the prohibition Of scaling shall have inflicted
on British seaIers during the pendency Of the
arbitration, and, IN the event OF decision
ddvorse to Great Britain, should assess the
damages which the limitation Of slaughter
shall, during tho pendency. OF arbitration,
have inflicted on the United States or its
lesseee.
The arbitration Of damages provided for
here covers, will bs noticed, only the period
from the ratification Of tho treaty to the
tims q final decision Il announced by the
Board Of Arbftrators. It contains no re-
strictlon Of liability such as Lord Salisbury
maintains as to damage done tho United
States since 1855, and can be accepted with
out renewal Of the discussion which threw
the original article as TO the general arbitra-
Hou Of damages out Of the treaty just rati-'
8ed. !
There was . full Cabinet meeting at the
White House after the ratification OF tho
treaty. The Cabinet practically agreed to
accspt Lord Salisbury's proposition for re-
nswal Of last years modus vivendt With
certain limitations as to the character Of
damages tobe left to the determination OF
the arbitrators.
The treaty provides that tho whole ques.
ton shall be submitted to arbitrators to be
appointed by France, Italy and Sweden, the
main question involved being whether seals
arc to be considered az ferae naturae or
whether the peculiar circumstances attend
ing seal life in Boring Sea Will permit Of q
special application in the case. Tho
whole question will be decided into five
different points, viz, the question Of what
exclusive jurisdiction Russia exercised prior
to the cession Of Alaska; how far such
rigals were recognized by Great Britain;
what rights IL any. Russia claimed
In the Bering Sea after the treaty Of
1926 between that country and Great
Britain; whether all the rights Of Russia
as to jurisdiction and as to the seal fisheries
In Bering Sea east Of the water boundary
did not pass unimpaired to the United States
under he'treaty Of 1857; and, lastly, has tho
United States any right and, II SO, what
right Of protection over the fur seals when
found in Bering Sea outside the ordinary
three mile limit.