New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-14
AWAITING ENGLAND'S REPLY.
MR.. BLAINE'S LATEST PROPOSAL FOR THE
BEHRING SEA ARBITRATION.
THE COMPOSITION OF THE BoARD-IMPoRrANC1
OF THE SEVENTH MFMBER.
OF The StN IN III MfMBEK.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TkIRUNE.I

iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TErBUNEr
Washington. Jan. 13.-An answer. possibly favoe-
able to Secretary Blalnes latest proposition in the
Behring Sea difficulty. is now daily expected at the
State Department. II is possible. even, that the
next mail may bring Lord Sasbury's rtpy Al
any rate. il is now believed that the outlook for
a settlement of this veXed question is little
brighter than il was week ago. This is not say
ing much, perhaps, in view Of the fact that
preparations have already been begun among
Canadian poachers TO resume in Nay next their
marauding expeditions, and the policy of pro-
crastination and delay which has marked Lord Sal
sburys conduct of negotiations, and which he shows
sign OF abandoning; but it Is, at all events.
better than complete standstill. As already men,
toned in these dispatches, the hitch in the ne1oia-
tions has arisen the selection of arbitrators.
In this phase of the controversy, in the moro
important one Of determining what should be sub
mitted to the board of arbitrators, Canada has
been the great stumbling block. Mr. Baine's origl-
nal proposition was for a commission to consist Of
five members the United States and England each
10 have the selection of one member and the other
three members to be chosen either by the King Of
Sweden and Norway, or the Government of three
countries to he agreed upon hereafter. each to
appoint Of tie three members. To this propo-
sition Lord Salisbury is understood TO have OBJ
jected, the ground that he obliged to heed
the demands of Canada, which insisted upon having
a special representative upon the commission. This
made it necessary, of course. to increase the men,
bership of the commission from five TO seven so as
TO equaze the representation of the United States
and that of Great Britain To this Secretary
Blaine assented with some reluctance but with
great prompness, thus proving his sincerity in de-
string to see the whole controversy terminated.
This, then, may be regarded as agreed upon:
the Commission is 10 be composed Of seven MEN,
bcrs, two to represent the United States and two
Great Britain, one Of the latter to be appointed
from Canada. As to the mode of selecting the
remaining three members Of the Commission, no
formal agreement has been reached The original
proposition that the King of Sweden and Norway
should be asked 10 appoint three members one
from among his own subjects, the other two from
those of other sovereigns or all three without
attaching any condition to the manner
of their selection, was declined by Lord
Salisbury. The modified proposition that three
Governments should be asked to appoint mem-
bers of the Commission was in principle, accept
able to Lord Salisbury but it was when attempt
ing TO determine which should be the three Cow
crnments to be asked 10 perform this duty that
difficulties arose. The only country meeting with
objection on the part Of Lord Salisbury, when
proposed by Secretary Blaine, was Sweden and
Norway and it is therefore more than likely
that the King of Sweden and Norway will be asked
to name Of the arbitrators. Another coun-
try suggested by Secretary Blaine was Holland
and serious objections were raised by Lord
Salisbury TO this selection, IL is altogether prob
able that that country will be requested to APP
point one of the members of the Commission.
As to the remaining member Of the Commission,
the impression prevails that either France or
Switzerland viii be asked to name him. At any
rate, it is upon She selection of the country 10
be asked to name che seventh and most important
member Of the Commission that the pending
difficulty turns.
Whichever the country agreed upon, and whoever
the man to be appointed, il is not unlikely that
such selection and appointment may determine
the result of the work entrusted TO the Commits
sion. The votes of the four American and British
commissioners will balance each other those that
cast them will appear in the role rather OF special
pleaders than judges Ii is only in 50 far as they
arguments and the presentation of facts that will
have any influence upon the work OF the COM
mission. lf the two arbtrators 10 be appointed
by Sweden and Norway and Holland should enter
tain dyerging views on any point submitted to the
Commission, il will be of the utmost Importance
who the remaining commissioner is, and 10 what
view of the case he inclneS. In this sense he is
the most important figure in this board of arbi-
tration, and his selection may well call for
extraordinary caution.
As % the place of holding the sittings OF tlle
Commission. the time organization, and other
more less important details, nothing has been
determined yet. Under the most favorable cir
cumstanccs the Commission could not finish its
labors even should it be nominated promptly. he
fore the beginning Of summer lis findings, then,
could not possibly he of any practical benefit TO
either Of the contending parties during the rel
mainder of the sealing season of ls92 renewal
Therefore of the mOdus vivendi agreed upon last
year must again be looked for.