The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-27
THE BERING SEA TREATY.
Its Ratification is Informally
Agreed To.
The Modns Clause Left Out-The Ma
jority Report Will Undoubtedly be
Adopted-The Minority Side Seems
to be Losing Strength-A Cabinet Of
csbly Settled.


Senate yesterday spent two and half
hours in the further consideration OF
the Boring Sea arbitration treaty. AS
result the discussion has nearly
reached conclusion, and vote is ex-
pected to be taken on the motion to
ratify the treaty some time next week.
In fact there did not seem to be any
sufficient reason why action should not
have been taken yesterday, although it
was represented that in view of the
small attendance of Senators toward
the close Of the session it would be bet
ter to defer the vote until next week.
The discussion has established q strong
probability that the treaty will be rati-
fed.
The Senators who oppose it as whole
are very few in number and find their
principal representative in Senator
FELTON,, of California. His opposition
to the treaty is based upon the idea that
it contemplates possible surrender of
absolute rights acquired by the United
States from Russia. But the most
formidable opposition to the ratification
OF the treaty is made up of the Senators
who believe that it should be accom-
panied, as proposed by the minority re-
port, by resolution directing the Pres
1dent to withhold the exchange of final
notifications until Great Britain con-
sents to renew the modus vlvendi. It
has been represented by the members
of the foreign relations committee that
the adoption of such a resolution would
defeat the treaty, for Great Britain
would never consent to be placed in the
attitude of renewing the modus vivendi
through fear of the results.
These representations have such effect
that yesterday it was made to appear
from the trend Of the debate that the
treaty will ultimately be ratified with
out any such condition. However, there
is still another element in the Senate
that seeks to follow the ratification of
the treaty with resolution indorsing
the Presidents action up to this point,
and asserting strongly the purpose of
this Government to protect its property
in the seals at all hazards pending arbi-
tratlon. This is the proposition of the
majority of the foreign affairs commit
tee. The element favoring this gath
cred strength yesterday, and it may be
treaty some such resolution will be
adopted, although a large number of
Senators feel that it will be unnecessary
to do this. as the President is already
fully satisfied that he has the hearty
support and CO operation of the Senate
Notwithstanding all of the discussion
had yesterday, the treaty remains tech
n1cally unchanged in its position and the
advancement that is to be recorded is
in the approach made toward conclu-
sion OF the debate. The efforts to main
tain secresy continue, and there has
been talk In executive session Of another
investigation into the newspaper meth
DDS. A Senator said yesterday, in
confederation of the report of the exc
cutive session in The Post yesterday,
that the Senators were made to realize
during the course of tho debate on
thursday that any premature publica-
tlon OF what was said in executive ses-
sion at this juncture might have the eff
feet OF seriously com plicating the pres
emit crisis. Many Senators went SO far
in their protestations of willingness to
keep silence as to put themselver on re-
cord as agreeing to submit to q resolu-
ton of expulsion from the Senate if
they divulged any of the proceedings.
The sole subject of talk in official
SA'StSS - VIZ oohBCl vi WAL WIFI
land. Few believe that war will result,
but all see the danger of it, and look
for England to recede from the position
she has taken to avert it, as they regard
that position utterly untenable. The
prevailing opinion seems to be that war
is preferable to the United States retir-
ing from the position she has taken. In
reaching the conclusion that England
will not fight, it is taken into considera-
ton that even to succeed in the war, to
gain control of the seal fisheries, and to
establish her contention respecting the
Boring Sea, would not compensate her
for the untold millions she would lose
in damage to her commerce on the seas,
the contscation of her subjects property
in the United States, the loss of her
subjects money invested in United
States registered bonds, and the hun
dred of other channels that would lead
to financial disaster, aside from the
enormous expense of the war itself.
The idea is always advanced that in
case OF war, with Ireland in turbu-
lent state, Russia awaiting herself OF an
opportunity to pounce into India and
acquire that country, England would
have her hands full both at home and
abroad, and, even if successful, could |
not but come out of tho war with her
power shorn and her credit we'll nigh |
gone. These reasons are advanced BY |
thinking men as likely to form such q |
public opinion as to overturn Lord |
Salisbury rather than to permit him to |
go to war with the United States.
NO fears are expressed on any side as |
to the ultimate outcome should war be |
declared, but at the same time, while |
not expecting it. the United States will |
not be- wholly unprepared, should it
come. Aside from the activity which |