New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-25
SALISBURY'S EVASIONS.
TEXT OF THE LATEST BEHRING SEA NOTES
PUBLISHED. sf
PRESIDENT HARRISON BRUSHES AWAY THE PRE-;
MIERs sUBTERFUGEs-GREAT SECRECY AZ
TO THE PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE.
fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

Washington March 24.-The Senate to-day after
| a secret session Of four hours. decided to mako
public the correspondence received yesterday from
the White House, embracing the cable message
from Lord Salisbury of last Sunday and Presi-
dent IIarrison's answer, through Mr.. Wharton,
TO the British Prime Minister'S evasive defense
of his refusal 10 last years sealing modus
vivendi. The contents Of the two letters. as read
in secret session yesterday, were freely outlined
in last nights dispatches and the published text
only brings out clearly and forcibly the ln-
conclusive and unsatisfactory character OF Lord
Salisbury's excuses for refusing modus vivendi
this year, and the direct and vigorous spirit IN
which President Harrison brushes away these
| diplomatic subterfuges and reduces the question
at issue-hat Of the protection Of seal life during
the progress of arbitration-to the plainest ana
most unmisakable terms.
IT, says the President in effect, the British Gov'
crnment will not waive the disputed rlght 70
enjoy pelagic sealing during the progress OF
arbitration, the United States cannot be expected
TO waive it's right, similarly disputed, to exclude
poachers from Behring Sea- This country, lie
points out under the terms Of modus vlvendi
like last years, would, in addition TO the claim
Of jurisdiction Behring Sea- yield its undis-
puted right to kill seals without limit on the Pr-
byloF islands, in return for Great Britains single
sea sealing But, if Great Britain insists on its
claim in behalf of the Canadian poachers. yield
ing nothing on its side Of the dispute, the United
States will yield nothing its side, but Will DC
compelled to enforce its contention OF jurisdiction
over seal life in Behring Sea in proportion as this
contention is assaied under the encouragement
and support given, direct and indirect to Cans-
dian poachers by Lord Salsbury's Government.
The insistence upon the right TO prevent pcagic
scaling becomes, through the refusal OF Greae
Britain to suspend the exercise OF its own dis-
puted rights in Behring Sea. matter OF National
honor and selfrespect' and the President frinkiy
tells Lord Salisbury that this country Will nos
he responsible for the consequences in case the
present selfish and one-sided policy OF Great
Britain is pushed TO its logical conclusions.
Nothing could be firmer more lucid effective
than President IIarrsOns summing up OF the
situation cntailed by Lord Salisburys refusal
to agree to another closed season. and the note
OF March ~ is likely to be regarded, both In
Congress and throughout the country. as most
admirable addition TO the Presidents many strik-
ing and felicitous public papers. One or two
minor points that are disclosed in the
correspondence now made public. Lord Sails
burys excuses for not renewing the nlodus sivenhi
II 1891 are various and some OF them almost
trivial One is that the arbitration may not bo
concluded
close season may be made necessary. lie cites in
support Of this ssppostion the Delagoa Bay arb-
tration case, which. he says, has run through
several wears The State Department replies with
effect that the Dcagoa Bay arbitration treaty wae
ratified less than year ago.
Lord Salisbury complains again, too, that
Canadian sealers will suffer serious loss through
the enforcement of another close season, and says
that there means of indemnlfylng them.
That there none Il due, as every one who has
read the correspondence recently published knows.
to Lord Salisbury himself, for it was through his
pronounced opposition that the clause stricken
out of the arbitration treaty which provided for
the determination of all questions of damages by
the Board of Arbitrators In view of the aban-
donmcnt of the indemnity section Of the treaty
at the British Prime Minister'S urgent desire his
suggestion that the United States take bond
from every sealer going TO Bchrn9 Sea this sum-
mer and recover damages hereafter if its conten-
ton is sustained by the arbltrators. is almost
humorous. As President Harrison points out, the
Board of Arbitrators cannot now award damages,
and there is possible way in which bonds given
by Canadian pcachers-if by any chance they
could be sccured-could be recovered on.
II is hard TO believe, indeed, that Lord Sails
bury is serious in many of the suggestions Of his
latest note through Sir Julian Pauncefotc Its
rambling and cvasivc character Is so marked
that il can scarcely he regarded as anything buo
an expedient for gaining temporary delay.
Great reticencc is maintained by Senators as
70 what was done in executive session to-day, and
very unusual means were taken by the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations 10 impress upon the
Senate the necessity of preserving secrecy with
regard 10 the sealing negotiations and the status
of the arbitration treaty Ii Is known. however,
that the treaty was not ratified this afternoon,
Al, i'm ,H
discussed at length in the light of the corrc-
spondcncc received yesterday Many speeches
were made both by Republican and Democratic
members in cordial support OF the attitude taken
by President Harrison in the note of March 22,
and there is no doubt that the Administration
will have the vigorous cooperation Of the Senate
in carrying out the policy so clearly laid down
and abundantly justified In the answer 10 LORD
Salisbury The decision of the Senate TO en-
deavor 10 preserve secrecy with regard TO tho
treaty while it remains under consideration and
subject to the changing conditions of diplomatic
correspondence, is generally commended. No good
can come out OF incomplete and inaccurate state
mcnts about the debates on the treaty. and much
harm may be done, both here and abroad. The
final action of the Senate on the convention can
confidently bc counted to be credtablc both
TO itself and To the country.
TEXT OF TIE CORRESPONDENCE.
The correspondence, sent 20 the Scpatc by
the President without comment, is as follows;
SIR JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE TO Mr.. WHARTON
British Legation, Washington. March 10, 1892.
sir: receipt of your note Of the sth Instant,
Immediately telegEphed To the Marquis of salisbury
substance of its contents, In accordance with the
reuuest which you expressed on behalf OF the Prchi-
dent and have now the honor 80 inform you that
have this day received reply from Ills Iordship by
telegram the following effect: LOr Salisbury again
points Out that the Information In the possession VI
icr Maesty's o,OvernmeN does not lead them 10 BE-
llevc that another years suspension Of sealing is
necessary to prevent undue dminntion OF the seal
herds. Ills Lodship. however. proceeds 70 observe
that yond this question. IL Is considered by your
Government that they have right Ia be protected
from loss which they may Incur from free sealing
Leing permitted this In the event Of their claim
20 Behrtng sea being upheld by the srbitrators
lie states that Her Malestys Government do noe
dispute that after the ratification OF the convention,
there Will foundation for this contention. but