New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-29
turned 70 the President in the form it was sent 10
ue Senate without any instructions whatever
THE BRITISH POSITION.
MORE OF THE CORRESPONDENCE MADE PUBLIC
IN LoNDoN-TIIE SUBJECT DISCUSSED
By TIE LORDS

London, March 2S.-The correspondence on the
! Behring Sea question: printed here this morning
shows, that on February q Lord Salisbury wrote
to Sir Julian Pauncefote. the British Minister at
Washington as follows
Her Malcsty's Government cannot admit in any
degree the correctness OF Mr. Baines statement that
there have been greater delays the part Of this
country in the negotiations concerning the Behrng
Sea than the part Of the United states. The CON
sent OF Her Maiesty's Government given last
year to the modus vivendi solely the ground of
preserving the seal species in those waters which II
was supposed would be endangered unless some Inter
! val gwen during which there should be ccssa-
uOn OF hunting both on sea and on land. No nfoTma-
ton has reached Her Majcsty's Government to lead
them 10 suppose that so drastic measure would be
requisite for two successive seasons"
Lord Salisbury here refers to the opinion of
the British Commission, and continues
You are authorized TO offer the Government OF the
United States the compromise suggested by the British
| Commission speedy decision is necessary, as we
are Informed that scaling vessels are already leaving
port. Mr.. Blaine's comparison OF the present stu
alton to the ownership OF timber land does not appear
70 me applicable 10 the case. II resembles rather
arbitration regarding the title to meadow. While
the arbitration pending, the party actually IN pos
the grass. and rightly so. nasmuch. as
next year the grnss will be reproduced. This is
equally the case with the seals
On February 26 Sir Julian Pauncefote sent 70
| Lord Salisbury the report Of the United States
| Consul at Victoria relative 10 the departure from
| that mort of scaling vessels On March hf for
warded Acting Secretary Whartons note Of that
date On March Lord Salisbury instructed Sir
| Julian Pauncefote 10 communicate Mr.. Wharton 5
note 10 Lord Stanley of Preston, Governor-GcDeral
of Canada On the same day Sir George Badeu-
Powell. one of the British commissioners, wrote
| TO Lord Salisbury in reference TO the modus
vivendi, as follows:
al am of the opinion that the taking Of one seasons
limited crop inure tho seal herd but although
| not necessary the renewal OF last years prohibition
| and the 500 limit would be beneficial As The
arbitrntIon convention contains conditions regarding
| ocean rights hope the Canadian Government mas
warned British Columbian scalers that the ultimate
! ownership Of seals taken this year In Behrlhg S'''
| depends upon the verdict Of the arbltTatorS. mo
| alternative for the scaers appears TO be elmer -
incur the expense of the catch subject TO this r1s OF
70 foyeco without compensation, one Seasons catch
say 90 600 sealsO-in Bcbring sea, on condition that
| 800 instead OF $4,000 be taken on the Saho.' al
increased number OF seals In future seasons ana en-
hanced prices for this spring being also insured oy
such rcstrctions.'
! Lord Salisbury wrote to Sir Junah faunceioc
| ON March ls as follows:
"Her Majesty's Government have consulted WIN
tho Governor. General of Canada with regard to the
arguments in favor OF the modus vivcnd cot"ihcd III
Mr. Whartons note Of the eighth. The necessity Oh
referring the arguments to Ottawa has caused the oeE
in returning an answer. The Information "hio" ""s
reached Her Macsty's Government does not lh' th'h
70 believe that In order prevent the undue dmnu'h
in the number OF fur seals any necessity exists Tor
the suspension Of sealing for another year. Beyond
this oueston l understand that the Government OF
the United states eon,id,r that should froc seaHhs
be permitted this year and tbs United states c''n
10 Jurisdiction in Behring Sea be Upheld py inc AT
b,rators they have a right to be protected from the
| o1tnO
Government do no. dispute that there VIII DC some
foundation for this contention when the arbitration
agreement Is ratified.
But there Is this defect In the prohibition OF all
sealing as remedy that, II the British contention DC
uphed bv the arbitrators. there NAV be ground Tor
complaint on the part Of the British sealers VINO VIII
have been excluded from Bchring sea. Further. no
security that the abtators Will give ther &c
cison before the sealing season OF 1SO3 arrives Ihcfc
has been arbitration pending for four years between
Great Rritan and the United States and Portugal ana
il is not vet approaching conclusion. Serious damage
will be caused 70 the sealing industry by the suspension
OF hunting for "A prolonged period As more equitable
arrapCement might il not be agreed that sealing YES
sells shall have liberty to hunt IN BehrnS sea on con
dton that security he given by the owner OF c1eh
vessel for a satisfactory award of the Damages II any,
which the arbllra,ors may eventually pronounceF y
Lord Knutsford, Secretary Of State for Colonial
Affairs. wrote as follows TO Lord Stanley, OF
Preston. Governor-Gcncral Of Capada, Oh March
IS:
Direct the proper port authority at al hhThors on
the Pacific Coast inform owners OF vessels WHO are
clearing or have cleared TINS year for Eeng Sea 'lt
Her Majesty's Government and tie Unit'd STATES "oN
ernmcnt have agreed, subject TO ratification by the
United state, Senate, TO submit 10 arbitration IN" qics
ton whether scaers have right, without permission
from the United States seal IN the ensicrn hall OF
Behrng Sea east Of t.c Russian line; and 1t IS po'i-
bic that the sentence of said tribunal may be gwen
within the present season. Moreover, boih Her
Majcstys Government and the United States Govern
mcnt have made propositions for Intermediate r'ghm-
tons restraining the catch Of seals In SAID waters III
case te said arbitration agreement should be rallied
Neither the arbitration agreement nor any Intermediate
agreement has been definitely adopted between the TWO
C,yernments and whether any Will be adopted. or on
what date IS necessarily matter Of uncertainty
Notice IS hereby given that all scalers proposing TO
seal in said do at their own risk, and after
warning OF tle liability TO interruption t. which ucy
will be exposed In consequence OF citcr OF said agree
ment."
In the House Of Lords today, Lord lleNchcll
asked whether Lord Salisbury would give further
information as TO whether or not There had been
any modification in the terms of the Beirins Sea
mOdus vivendl
Lord Salisbury answered that the Information
the Government had laid upon the table, con
,ained the whole correspondence concerning thc
MATTER that had been exchanged, up 10 WITHIN
tycntvfour hours Of its publication. lie had
absolutely no later information. Continuing, the
Premier said
Il feel that my language may secn 10 pir'aNr
o,bat Of curtncss if / do not answer az
Greater length, but think Lord lIerschell appre-
ciatcs my view that had better let the CORES codres
nondcncc sneak for itself. ] shall not hazard
anv comment either on our views or ,noSr ol
,he United States. do not see any advantage
in q discussion Of the correspondence al 'niS
STAGE. ! have, perhaps, deviated from my nS""i
course in disclosing the entire coircSpo"u,"
cou'oe ,Io noco,iations are concluded; but |
~ L, !, o,lv fair and tending 10 promote duc
.n,oc;otion Of the questions at issue, to put 'hc
,.l'' 10 matter before Parliament and the p"ohc'
.Tbe Star" to-day, commenting upo" Wv
=. g.. Co., corrcs Doudence, says: Inc ui9-