The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-04-01
SALISBU REPLY.
THE PRESIDENT SENDS A MESSAGE
RESPEOrIN G IT TO The SENATE.
WASHINGTON. March 2;
THE sir UATION IS GRAVE.


ofindemnity to Canadian sealers in case
the arbitrators decide the main contro-
versy against tie United States, and
the Presidents rejoinder rejecting the
conditions have gone to the Senate.
They are being carefully guarded, but
enough has leaked out to make the
situation look very grave.
The President closed his note with a
declaration that unless a modus viven-
di was agreed on he would see that the
laws against poachers were enforced if
he was obliged to use the military and
naval force of the United States to do
so. This is probably very brusque
way Of stating what was conveyed in
more diplomatic language, as it is not
probable the President would assume
the responsibility Of blunt and warlkc
threat. ...... .... .....r
Nevertheless, the mere intimatlon
that the President has gone ahead and
brought matters to crisis which may
eventuate in war has unsettled every.
body. The moncyed interests are al
ready alarmed, as the countless tele-
grams of inquiry from New York this
afternoon indicate. The President,
who was SO severely criticised for his
precipitate action in the Chilian mat
ter, perhaps fears that his present ag-
gressve stand in the controversy with
England is necessary to vindicate him
from the charge then made that he
was anxious to jump on a little petty
fourth-rate power.
John Bull however, is not in the
habit of taking bluff, although it is
apparent that England is prevented
from rushing into hostilitles with the
United States by the delicate situation
in Europe. A declaration of war be-
tween John Bull and Uncle Sam, it is
generally believed, would be immedi-
ately followed by hostile demonstra-
tons against India and Egypt by Rus
sia and France respectively, and the
whole continent of Europe would
probably become embroiled in war.
Assurances are given to. night, however,
that the Presidents rejoinder contained
nothing like an ultimatum. The full
text of his correspondence is awaited
with keen interest.
A MESSAGE TO THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 2Sth.-At half
past I2, last Friday message from
the President on the Behring Sea mat
ter reached the Senate, and Senator
Sherman entered a motion to go into
executive session, which was done.
The Senate remained in executive
session short time, presumably in
reference to the Behring Sea matter
Lord Salisbury's note may be de-
scribed as synopsis Of the detailed
reply to the State Department note,
which is to follow by mail. His refus-
al to consent to renewal of the mod,
us vivendi is accompanied with several
counter propositions, the reading of
which was received with Unsurpassed
irritation by the Senate. The general
character of the note is described as
evasive and equivocating.
The Presidents rejoinder was also
transmitted to the Senate. 1t is pun
gent communication, in which the
President broadly, but in diplomatic
language, hints that Lord Salisbury
has not met his overtures in straight
forward, businesslike manner. The
President insists upon renewal of the
modus vivendl, without reference to
insignificant or irrelevant conditions,
and closes his note with the stirring
assertion that if the Government of
Great Britain declines to assist in the
protection of the seals during the ar
bitration of the claims of the United
States he will proceed to enforce the
laws and exclude poachers from Beh-
ring Sea if the military force of the
United States is required to accom-
plish it.
The gravity of the case has led to
renewal of the strongest efforts OF
the Senators to prevent the public
from being made acquainted with the
facts until the correspondence has pro-
gressed further. There was no express
sion of opinion by the President in his
letter of transmittal; but this was not
needed, in view of the clearly defined
position assumed by him in his rejoin-
der to Lord Salisbury, which appeared
to meet with the unanimous approval
of the Senators, although the debate
itself was too short to disclose officially
the standing Of the Senators.
Although there has been nothing in
the nature of a direct vote upon the
treaty of arbitration, and there is a
well-dehned opposition to it as a sur
render by the United States OF her
rights acquired BY treaty from Russia,
it can be stated that the treaty will
soon be ratified by the Senate. But a
resolution will accompany it reciting
that there does not appear to be any
sufficient reason for the abatement by
the limited States of its claims to