The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-31
JULIAN PAUNCEFoTE.
Mr.. Wharton to the British Minister.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Mr.. Wharton tn the British Minister.
DEPARTMENT STATE.
WASHINGTON, March %, 1892. !
SIR am directed by the President to say that
your note, dated the 18th instant and delivered on
the Goth instant Sunday has had his immediate
attention, in view of what he deems to be the
IRENE urgency and gravity of the matter under
discussion The urgency grows out of the fact that
much further protraction OF this discussion will
make any nodns that may be agreed upon in
efectual TO protect the interests of the United
States, and will give 10 the Canadian sealcrs prac-
tlcal immunity by reason of the impossihility of
communicating to them the agreed restrictions 1t
Is known TO this Government that the seaers have
hastened their departure TO escape notice of pos
sble n'odas and that every day almost adds to the
ileet that must now be overhauled at sea. Already
AZ Canadian vessels have cleared for the sealing
grounds las against 81 at the date last year,,
and are engaged in following up and destroying
the seal herds. These vessels will if not stopped
and turned back ut the passes go into the Bering
Sea and pursue to the very shores of our islands
the slaughter of the mother seals seeking accus-
toned rookerics to be delivered of their Young.
This is n crime against nature. This Government
expects to show, II the arbitration proceeds, that
female seals constitute the larger per cent of the
catch OF the peagic sealcrs.
That in view Of this serious and confident con-
tention Of this Government, his Lordship should
assume that another year. suspension of such seal
ing Is not necessary ito prevent an undue dmnu-
ton of the zeal herds" and should insist that
pending arbitration IL shall go on precisely as
If no arbitration had been agreed upon is
AS SURPRISING AS IT IS DIsAPPoINTINss
If Her Maes.y's Government SO little respects the
claims and contentious of this Government ae to
be unwilling TO forbear for single season TO dis
regard them the President cannot understand why
Lord Salisbury should have proposed and agreed
10 give to these claims the dignity and standing
which reference to the High Court of Arbitration
implies. From the moment arbitration was
agreed upon neither party was at liberty to disre-
gard the contentious OF the other IL must be as
sumed that the sincere purpose of the two Govern
ments was to promote peace and goodwill; but it.
pending the arbitration either deals with the suh
n lao ha1 inf tic
ton and in utter disregard of the claims of the
other, this friendly end is not only not attained
but new sense of injury and injustice is added,
even II IT should be found possible to proceed with
an arbitration under such conditions. For it must
not be forgotten that if Her Majesty's Government
proceeds during this sealing season upon the basis
of its contention as to the rights of the Canadian
sealers choice is left to this Government but 10
proceed upon the basis Of its confident contention
that pe}agic scaling in the Bering Sea Is an nfrac
ton OF 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 present situation, and he Is not willing to
be found in any degree responsible for the results
that may follow the insstence by either Govern
ment during this season upon the extreme right
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 single should be allowed to
thwart or to disturb the honorable and
friendly adjustment OF their differences, which is
adhere TO his refusal to unite with US in prompt
and effective measures to stop pelaeic sealing aud
shall Insist upon free sealing for British subjects
the question, it affects this Government is no
longer one OF pecuniary loss gain, but one of
honor and self respect.
This Government, notwithstanding the fact that
its right to take seals upon the Pribylof Islands is
rndisputed and wholly uninvOlved in the arbitra-
ton, has proposed to take profit from the island
CATCH but to limit the taking of seals TO the neces
stiles of the natives of those islands and ii cannot
consent that with indemnify or without the con-
tested rights of British subjects to catch seals in
the Boring Sea shall be exercised pending the az b
tration.
The President finds 1t difficult TO believe that
Lord Salisbury ~ serious iii proposing that this
Government shall take separate bonds from the
owners of about 100 Canadian scaling vessels to
1t for the injury they may severally
infict upon our jurisdiction property, and must
decline 10 discuss II suggestion which only his
Iordship has due appreciation of the gravity of
this discussion
ENABLE HIM TO TREAT WITH SERIOUSNESS.
We should doubtless have to pursue and capture
upon the sea many of the owners of those vessels
TO secure the bonds suggested. ana the condition
is to be that the obligors shall pay "any damages
Which the arbirators may adjudge' while The
treaty gives the arbtrators no power 10 adjudge
any damages, the transaction would be without
risk TO the obligors 0nd of no value TO us
This Government cannot consent to have what
IL believes to be its rights destroyed or impaired
pending their determination by agreed tribunal,
however adequate the security offered The refer.
ence in my last to the inconsistency of Her
MHjesty's Government in denying responsibility
for the acts of the Canadian Gealcrs was not in
tended 10 suggest n Willingness our part under
any circumstances 10 see our property converted
into claim for damages, and part icuIary as such
n claim cannot now be heard or determined By the
al brators without reformation of the treaty for