Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-24
HE'S VERY CRAFTY
Salisbury Presents New
Issue in the Behring Sea Case
DISCUSSED BY The CABlNE7
he Wants the United States 10 Pay
Losses Of Canadian Scslers-His
Reply - Unsatisfactory.


wAsuIseroS. March 25.-The Behr-
ing sea matter was the subject before
the cabinet on Tuesday. For two
hours the president and his eonstitu-
tional advisers discussed the phases of
the situation. All the cabinet minis
tiers except Dir. Blaine were present
Mr.. Blaine is still confined 10 his house
by illness, and Mr. Wharton. the first
assistant secretary. is acting in his stead.
The president laid before the various
mem bers in attendance Lord Ssiisbury's
reply. which arrived Sunday last As
he read the different paragraphs the
president commented upon them In his
Enthusiastically terse and forcible
fashion When he had finished it was
plain that he himself was far from
pleased with IT, and his feelings were
obviously reflected 10y his cabinet min
isters-
E.ades the Issue.
Lord Salisoury's reply was char
acterized by them as shifting and
evssive. II is not, it appears. SO much
of a reply as it is 4 restatement of the
British side OF the contention. Lord
Salisbury declines a renewal of the mo
dus vivendi That is tie most i'm portant
intelligence contained in his note. He is
also understood TO ask that the United
State, shall hold itself liable for what
ever losses the poachers may suffer
from being driven out of Behring sea
this year If the arbitrators shall decide
that we have no right in those waters
outside of the Smile limit
Grieved ut the President's Comments.
The British premier travels back to
some of the points on which ne and
Secretary Blaine were unable TO agree
for insertion in the arbitration treaty.
He is particularly grieved at the
sharp comment of President Har-
fusal TO agree that the aroi-
traitors should decide what damages
may be due the United States for
the losses it has suffered from the
poachers in case the main question
should be decided that way. Lord
Salisbury argues that the United States
can find its own remedy for damages
it may suffer. He repeats the disclsim-
er previously made of responsibility
for the poachers but in no way insiau-
ates that the Canadians will be shown
Great Britain's lack Of SYM
patty in their poaching by
the absence OF vessels from the
Alaskan waters. He reiterates that
the proposition for a closed zone of 80
miles around the Pribyloff islands Is
sufficient, and closes with some evasive
expressions of = willingness to cooper
ate with the United States In any ''rea-
souable measures"
At the rate of progress indicated by
Lord Salisbury's note modified modus
vivendi might be reached at the close
OF the scaling season.
Urged to Secrecy.
At the cabinet meeting President
crecy on MS Official advisers. He eau
toned them all against leaking until
the preparations making by the navy
department and the revenue marine
corps are completed. At the same
time the president thought it desirable
that the unsatisfactory terms of Lord
Salisbury's reply should not be made
public until he had made answer
tn through the state department and had
transmitted to the senate foreign rela-
tions committee confidential message
giving all the facts
Will Not Press Ratification.
The understanding in the cabinet
was that the arbitration treaty would
not be pressed for ratification so long
as Great Britain's attitude continued so
unsatisfactory. President Harrison
will send Lord Salisbury's reply to the
senate committee on foreign relations
1t is his desire that its text he COM
municated only to the member of the
committee and by them held in strict
confidence. Senator Sherman, who is
chairman of the committee, had 4 con-
ference with Mr.. Harrison before the
cabinet meeting Tuesday, and this con-
clusien was reached at that time. The
president does not wish to act hastily
in the matter and will not indite an
answer TO Lord Salisbury until the
senate committee shall have been made
familiar with the contents of that gen.
tiemans note.
sure OF the senators' support.
As soon as the president transmits
the latest facts to the committee on
foreign relations it will report reso-
luton indorsing the course of the cx-
ccutive. This will be in its nature a
pledge to support the administration
in what further steps may be ncccs-
sary to protect the seal. If it leads To
collision with Great Britain
congress will take its share OF the re-
sponsibility.