The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-24
STANDING BY THE SEALS.
SALIsBURY's LAST NOTE AS FULL
OF BLUFF AS HIS OTHERS.

were Gen. John W. Foster, who is assisting
him in the Bering sea negotiations, and
Sentor Sherman, chairman Of the Senate
committee on foreign relations. One of the
questions under consideration was the ad-
visibility Of the prompt transmission to
the Senate OF the correspondence that has
passed between this country and Great
Britain since March in regard to the pro-
tection of the seal herds pending a settle
ment by arbitration Of the jurisdictional
rights Of the United States in Bering sea.
1t is said that the attitude OF Great Britain
on this point will have a most important
bearing on the Senate's action on the pending
treaty of arbitration. II is broadly inti>
mated that the implied disposition on Great
Britain to resent any interference by this
government with vessels flying the English
flag engaged in pelagio sealing in Berlng
sea would undoubtedly result in the rejec-
tion OF the treaty In its present form. The
correspondence consists, it is understood, of
two notes. the first being Lord Salisburys
oabled note of March 10. and the reply from
the President, dated yesterday. Neither OF
the notes is Of great length. The oorre-
spondence was subsequently sent to the
Senate.
BkFOHH THE SENATE.
The Presidents message transmitting
Lord Salisbury's reply TO the last note from
this government relative to the modus
vlvendi was laid before the Senate In execu-
tive session at O'Clock. Lord Salisbury's
reply, as already stated, is a virtual reitera.
tion of his declination TO renew the modus
vivendi on the same terms as existed last
year. After half an hours discussion the
correspondence was referred to the commit
tee on foreign relations and the doors were
reopened. The correspondence was not
made public. The President in his letter
announced that he had made rejoinder to
Lord Salisbury's reply. Lord Salsbury's
note may be described as a synopsis of
the detailed reply to the state department
note which is 30 follow by mail,
His refusal TO consent to a renewal OF the
modus vivendi is accompanied with several
counter propositions. the reading Of which
was reserved with Unsurpassed irritation
by the Senate. The general character of the
note is described as evasive and equivooa-
ting.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
The Presidents rejoinder was also trans
mitted to the Senate. 1t is a puugent COM
municatIon, In which the President broadly
put in diplomatic language hints that Lord
Salisbury has not met his overtures in a
straightforward, businesshke manner. The
President insists upon renewal
of the modus vivendi without
reference TO insiRnifcaut or irrelevant
conditions, and CLOSES his note with stir
ring assertion that IL the governments Of
Great Britain declines to assist in the pro-
lection Of seals during the arbitration OF
the claims Of the United States he will pro-
ceed TO enforce the laws and exclude poach-
ers from Bering sea, If the military force Of
the United States is required to accomplish
it. The note created a sensation in the Sen
ate.
THE SITUATION GRAVE.
The gravity of the case has led to a re-
newal Of the strongest efforts of the senators
to prevent the public from being made
acquainted with the facts until the corre-
spondence has progressed further There was
no expression Of opinion by the President
in his letter Of transmittal, but this was not
needed In view Of the clearly defined posi-
tion assumed by him in bis rejoinder to
Lord Salisbury, which appeared to meet
with the unanimous approval of the sem
ators although the debate itself was too
short to disclose officially their standing.
Although there has been nothing in the
nature Of direct vote upon the treaty Of
arbitration, and there is well defined oppo-
sition to 10 as a surrender by the
United States of her rights acquired by
treaty from Russia. 10 can be stated that
the treaty will soon be ratified by the SEN
ate, but resolution will accompany it,
reciting that there does not appear to be
any sufficient reason for the abatement by
the United States of its claim to iurisdic-
tion pending al rbitration, and authorizing
the President to use all the force of the mil
itary OF the government TO secure protec-
ton Of the rights OF the United States.
sALIsBURY's DIPLOMATIC PHRASE.
s.A; 7 II
not in his note refuse to enter into a modus
vivendi Of some kind; he does not fatty
refuse to be party to some arrangement;
but, automatically speaking, he fails to
consent to the proposition made by this
government. Inasmuch as the Senate has
refused to make the correspondence public
il is exceeding difficult to get clear state
ment Of the exact idea intended TO be con-
veyed in the diplomatic language Of such
correspondence as that laid before the
Senate to-day, but undoubtedly the
impression generally conveyed by reading
it was that Lord Salisbury has refused to
renew the arrangement of last year. 1t
can be stated that there is nothing in the
nature Of an ultimatum on the part of either
government in the correspondence laid be-
fore the Senate The correspondence is
still considered incomplete and the way is
still open for further letter writing in the
line of an endeavor on the part Of each side
TO show how far the other party is in
the wrong. Underlying the formal phrase
ology of diplomacy, however, is an evident
intention on the part of this government
to bring the matter to the point OF definite
determination before the sealing season is
far advanced. and the Presidents reply, it
is thought, will greatly tend to the attain
ment of the desired result.
ENGLAND SENDS FLEET.
LONDON, March 23.-The Graphic saws:
1.-THE dispatch Of portion of the Pacific
squadron Borthward shows that Lord Sails
bury is not disposed to recede from his posi-
tion. Happily there is plenty OF time for
further negotiations President Harrison
he's apparently taken Lord Salisburv's
complaisance for irresolution, hence bis
swaggering rejoinder. A little more COR
respondence and reflection will show him
his mistake"
ELECTION GLAMoR.
ing Post says: ut Is impossible 20 believe
that when the glamor Of the elections Is
removed from the eyes Of American states
men they will fail 20 recognize the inherent
fairness OF Lord Salisbury's proposition.
30 small a matter cannot produce serious
friction between two great nations allied
by blood"
The Daily Mews says "If statesmen
and diplomats on both sides do not soon find
some modus Yiyendi. arbitration will soon
bo no moro than one OF those good inton-
tlons certain place is paved with. AS ap-
poarances go. President Harrison will not
necessarily score az all points"