Morris tribune., 1892-03-30

insistence by either government during
the extreme rights claimed by it.
In his opinion it would discredit In
the eyes of the world the two great
movements involved if the paltry profits
Of single season should be allowed tc
thwart or even to disturb the honorable
and friendly adjustment Of their differ
ences, which is so nearly concluded: but
if his lordship shall insist upon free
sealing for British subjects, the ques'
tion, as it affects this government, is nc
longer one one of pecuniary loss or gain
but one of honor and self respect.
This government, Notwithstanding
the fact that its right to take seals up
on the Pribyloff islands is undisputed
and wholly uninvolved in the arbitra'
tion, has proposed to take no profit from
the island catch, but to limit the taking
of seals to the necessities of the natives
of those islands; and it cannot consent
that, with indemnity or without, the
contested rights of British subjects to
catch seals in the Behring sea shall be
exercised pending the arbitration.
The president finds it difficult to be-
ieve that Lord Salisbury is serious in
proposing that his government shall
take separate bonds from the owners OF
about one hundred Canadian sealing
vessels to indemnify it for the injury
they may severally inflict upon our
jurisdiction or property, and must de-
cline to discuss suggestion which only
his respect for Lord Salisbury and his
belief that his lordship has due appre-
citation 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 own
ers of those vessels to secure the bonds
suggested, and as the condition is to be
that the obligors shall pay ''any dam
ages which the arbitrators may ad-
judge" while the treaty gives the arbi-
traitors no power to adjudge any dam
ages the transaction would be without
risk to the obligors, and Of no value to
us. This government cannot consent
to have what it believes to be its rights
destroyed or impaired pending their
determination by an agreed tribunal,
however adequate the security offered.
The president directs me to say, in
conclusion, that the modus of last year
is the least that this government can
accept. In reason the restraints, after
a treaty of arbitration, should be more
absolute, not less. He does not desire
to protract this discussion, and having
now in the most friendly spirit submit
ted the considerations which support
the last demand of this government,
that the property which is the subject
of an agreed arbitration shall not be
subject to spoliation pending the arbi-
tration, he expresses the hope that Lord
Salisbury will give a prompt and
friendly assent to renew the modus.
The president will hear with regret
that her majesty's government con-
tinues to assert right to deal with this
subject precisely as if no provision had
been made for settlement of the dis
pute; and in that event this government,
as already pointed out, will be COM
PEELED to deal with the subject upon the
same basis, and to use every means in
its power to protect destruction Or seri~
Gus injury to property and jurisdic-
tional rights which it has long claimed
and enjoyed. ---.--