The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-25
HIS REPLY TO SALISBURY
President Harrison Insists on the
Protection OF Seal Herds Dur
ing Arbitration.
Grounds on Which Renewal OF
the Modus Vivendi Is
Demanded.

D6mHuQed.
Inconsistency OF the British Premier
Clearly shown bv the Reply-Ths
Arbitration Treaty.
WAsHrNeroa, March 24.-The correspond
encs received yesterday from the president
relative to Bering sen was made public.
The first communication is from Sir Julian
Pauncefote to Mr.. Wharton. under date Of
March 10, stating that he had received re-
ply from Lord Salisbury, which again
points out that information In possession
70 her 1najesty's government does not lead
them to believe another years suspension
OF sealing is necessary to prevent undue
dimiLution Of seal herds. His lordship,
however, proceeded to observe that beyond
this question it is considered by the govern
ment OF the United States that they have
right to be protected from loss they may
| incur from FREQ sealing this year. In the
event OF their claim being upheld by arbitra-
| tors. tie states that her ma jesty' governments
| does not dispute that after ratification OF
the convention there would be some foun-
datlon for this contention, but adds that
the prohibition Of oil sealers is the remedy
for this effect; that British sealers excluded
from BerinR sea would have nndoubted
grounds Of complaint if British claims are
upheld by the arbitrators. Moreover there
ia no security that arbitration would bs
concluded before the sealing season OF
1888, and serious damage would be caused
the industry by the suspension of sealing
for so long period. In view Of all the
above considerations, it appears to her
majesty,s government that it would be
more equitable to provide that sealers in
Boring sea shall give security for satisfying
any damages the arbitrators may adjudge.
| Under date of March 22, MIR. Wharton re-
| piled as follows: II am directed by the
| president that your note of the 18th inst.
| has had his immediate attention in view of
what he deems the extreme urgency and
gravity Of the matter. Urgency grows out
Of the fact that further protection made by
any modus would be Intellectual to protect
| the interests of the United States and give
| Canadian sealers practical imm unity. II il
| known to this government that sealers have
| hastened their departure to escape notice
of a possible modus, ard every day almost
adds to the fleet that must be overhaned at
4
have cleared for the sealing grounds as
against thirty-one at the same cate last
year, and are engaged iii following u D and
destroying seal herds. These vessels will,
if not stopped and turned back Mt the
passes 70 into Berng sea and pur-
islands the slaughter Ut mother seals,
seeking their accustomed Iookeries to be
delivered of their young. This is Il crime
against nature. This government expects
/ to show, if the arbitration proceeds, that
female seals constitute the larger portion of
the catch of pelagic seal.rs. That, in view
of this serious and confident con Intention OF
this government, his lordship should as
sumo that another yent's suspension OF
such sealing ls not necessarg, 10 prevent
undue diminution of seal herus' and should
| insist that, pending q bitrution, it shall 90
on precisely rs if no arbitration Ind been
agreed upon, is as surprising as it ia disap-
pointing If her majesty's government so
little respect the claim and contentious OF
this government as to be willing for a sim
gle season, to disregard them, the rresi-
dent cannot understand why Lord
Salisbury should have proposed ana
agreed to give to those claims the
dignity and standing which reference to
high conrt Of arbitration implies From
the moment arbitration was agreed upon
neither party was at liberty to disregard
the contentious Of the other. 1t must be
assumed that the sincere purpose OF the
two governments was to promote peace and
good will, but if pending arbitration either
deals with the subject of it solely upon
the basis of it's own contention and in ut
ter disregatd of the claims Of the other,
this friendly end is not only not attained,
but new sense of injury and injustice is
added. even if it should be found possible
! to proceed with m arbitration under such
conditions. For it must not he forgotten
that if her mAjesty's government proceeds
of its contention AZ to the rights of Cnna-
dian sealers, no choice is left this govern
ment but to proceed upon the bnsis OF its
confident contention that pelngic sealing in
l3erinR sea is IN intraction Of its iurisdic-
| tion and property rights.
I His lordship will hardly fail to see this,
Herein i'll the opinion OF the president,
consists the gravity of the situation, and he
| is not willing to be found in any degree
responsible for results that may follow in
sistence by either government during this
aeason upon extreme rights claimed by it.
| In his opinion it would discredit in the
eyes of the world the two great govern
ments involved if the paltry profits of Y
! single season should be allowed to thwart
or even disturb an honorable and friendly
| adjustment of their differences so nearly
concluded: but, if his lordship shall adhere
to his refusal TO unite with us i'll prompt
and effective measures to stop pelagio seal
| ing, and shall insist upon free sealing for
| British subjects. the question az it affects
this government is no longer one of pecun-
ary loss or gain, but of honor and self
| respect This government, Notwithstanding
! its right to take seals upon Pribylotf islands
| is undisputed and wholly uninsolved in
| arbitration, has proposed to take no profit
from the island catch, but limit tho taking
of seals to the necessities of the natives of
those islands, and it cannot consent that.
without indemnity or without contest the
rights of British subjects to catch seals in
Bering sea shall be exercised pending arbi-
! tratlun.
",lhe president finds it difficult to believe
that Lord Salisbury is serious in proposing
that this government shalt take separate
bonds ftom the owners of about ln0
Canadian sealing vessels to indemnify it
for injury they may severallv inilict upon
our jurisdiction or property, and
must decline to discuss the sugges-
tion, which only his respect for
Lord Salisbury and his belief TINT his lord
| ship has due appreciation of the gravity of
this discussion enable him TO treat with se-
rionsness. We should doubtless hnyo to
pursue and capture upon the sea many of
the owners of those vessels To secure the
bonds suggested, and as u condition IL TO
be- thnt they shall pay any damages which
nrbitrators muy adiudse. while the treaty
gives tie urhitrators no ROVER To Auludge
any damages tho transaction would ba
without risk to them and OF no value to us.
This government cannot consent to hays
what it believes ITS rights destroyed or Inn
paired, pending determination by an agreed