The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-10
BERING SEA TREATY.
Terms of the Agreement Now
Before the Senate.
RECENT SEAL CORRESPONDENCE
Harrison Himself Wrote the Ultimatam
to saiisbury-The Herd, Which II
Enormous. Moving North.

WASHINGTON CRY. March 9.--The arbi-
tration treaty submitted to the Senate by
the president recites the desire of the
government of this country and England
for an amicable settlement of questions
concerning the iurisdictional rights of the
United States in Boring sea, also concern
ing the preservation of the fur seal in
the sea and the rights of subjects of either
country as regards the taking of the seal
in the sea. Therefore, the questions will
be submitted to an arbitration committee
composed of seven, two to be named by
the president of the United States, two by
Queen Victoria and one each by the presi-
dent of the French republic, the
king of Italy and the king of
Norway and Sweden. The treaty pro-
vides for the time and place of
meeting of the arbitrators; the various
points to be considered for filling vacan-
cies that may exist in the commission, and
for the employment of the necessary
clerical assistance, etc., and binds
this country and England to
consider the findings of the
tribunal as full, perfect and final settle
ment of all the questions referred. The
Senate, after spending three hours in
executive session discussing Boring sea
matters, ordered all the documents relat-
ing to the subject printed and adjourned.
The president todsy sent to the Senate
the correspondence in regard to the Boring
sea question.
The correspondence includes all the let
ters exchanged between the two govern
ments since April 20, 1891. Most of it has
been heretofore published. There are a
number of letters between Mr.. Blaine and
Sir Julian Pauncefote.
In his note of February % Sir Julian
Pauncefote informs Secretary Blaine that
Lord Salisbury does not admit, as
previously indicated by Blaine, that the
delays have been greater on the part of
Great Britain than of the United
States. He says the British commas
sioners have reported that there is Io
danger of seriously diminishing the seals,
and, therefore, the necessity of modus
yivendi is not apparent. Still he would
not object to prohibition limited to a zone
not more than thirty miles around the
Pribilof islands, provided the catch on the
islands be limited to 10000.
In his note of March Z Sir Julian pre-
sents arguments in support of Lord Sails
bury's refusal to accede to another modus
vivendi. He says he agreed at first under
stipulation that could not be re-
pealed, and that there was no ap-
parent danger to the seal species. He
adds that the zone proposed is more
extensive than that mentioned by
Blaine on March IS, 1891, and that the
anticipation of conflicts considered in the
note of May 4, 1891, has been met by the
provisions of the Boring sea act, the
court and the order of the council.
In his response to this note yesterday
Assistant Secretary Wharton states that
the president notices with the deepest re-
greet the indisposition of her majesty's
government to agree upoE an effective mode
for the preservation of seals in Boring sea,
pending the settlement of the respective
rights of the governments in these waters
and in the fur-seal fisheries therein. He
calls attention to the fact that the treaty
OF arbitration awaits only the action of
the American Senate, and the judgment
of the arbitration tribunal cannot be
stated in time to control the con-
duct of sealers during the present
season. The urgent question, he says,
is what does good faith, to say nothing of
ties to the arbitration? Was it very hard
before, he asked, that one party to such a
controversy, whether nation or individual
could appropriate the whole or any part of
the income and profits much less
the body Of the contested property,
pending litigation without accountability :?
1t is no answer for the trespasser. it is
contended, to say that the true owner will
], ~, l.
Last year the harvest was his also, and
further. this government has already been
advised that Great Britain repudiates all
obligations to indemnify the United
States for an invasion of Jurisdiction or
any injury done to the sealing property by
Canadian sealers. In conclusion, it is
stated, that this government Will honor
ably abide the Judgment of the arbitration
tribunal which has been agreed upon.
whether that judgment be favorable or I'M
favorable, and will not seek to avoid lust
responsibility for any of its acts which.
by that Judgment are found to be unlawful
But certainly the United States cannot he
expected to suspend its defense. bv such
means as are within its power, of the
property and jurisdictional rights claimed
by it, pending arbitration. and to consent
TO receive them from the tribunal. if
awarded, shorn of much of their value by
the acts of irresponsible persons.
1t Is learned that Secretary Blaiue's ILL
ness prevented any consultation with him
as to Salisbury's note opposing the moaus
vivendi of last year. and that the reply
thereto, dated the Sth inst, transmitted
by Mr.. Wharton, was in fact written by
the president.
Victoria, March 9-lSpacIal.l-The
seals are moving north in an immense
army, and fleet of schooners are fol-
lowing.
Nine Months in Prison for Hrs Osborne,
LONDON, March 0-Ethel Osborne
against whom an indictment was found
for larceny and perjury. today pleaded