New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-29
THE BEHRING SEA DISPUTE.
IT IS LIKELY THAT THE ARBITRATION
TREATY WILL BE APPROVED TO-DAY.
n VIEW OF LORD SALIsBURY's LATEST NOTE.
TIE SENATE PRACTICALLY DECIDES TO
ATTACH NO CONDITIONS TO
THE CONVENTION
IBY TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRIBUNE. !

more hours to-day on the Behring Sea arbitrator
treaty, the publication of Lord Salisbury's lates,
letter this morning adding new interest to the
discussion over its ratification and giving highly
important and gratifying turn to the whole con-
troversy. 1t had been expected that a vote would
be reached this afternoon on the question of rat.
flying the convention. and when the Senate ad
journed last Friday it was the purpose OF the
majority TO ratify the treaty without further de.
lay. but TO attach TO the resolution Of approval
proviso that last years agreement as to a close
season should be revived before arbitration should
be definitely entered upon Lord Salisburys dis.
patch put a new face the situation to-day,
and after full and free discussion of the altered
prospect, it was practically decided TO abandon
the proposed proviso and to approve the arbitra-
tion treaty just as il stands No final vote was
taken before adjournment but there is little doubt
that the convention will be formally ratified to-
morrow. without condition recommendation OF
any
Lord Salsbury's note timely reinforce
ment of the views held by Mr. Sherman and other
leading members of the Committee on Foreign Re
lations, and without its aid they could hardly
have succeeded in enforcing the unconditional ap-
proval of the treaty which now seems certain AS
much surprise as qualification expressed to-day
in the Senate that the British Prime Minister had
relaxed his embarrassing opposition TO the revival
of last years close season agreement, the renewal
of which was contended for by large number Of
Senator'S as an Indispensable condition of arbitra-
ton Heretofore the British Government has In
sisted that another modus vivendi was by no
means necessary TO protect seal life this year, and
Lord Salisbury had brought forward some ridicu-
lousy inadequate substitutes for a close season
which he gravcly argued were quite sufficient for
all practical purposes. Retiring behind the
admission that after ratification there will arise
new state of things" he proposed 20 yield ap
proval of the treaty by the Senate. what he had
before no apparent intention Of consentng to this
year under any conditions. His explicit state
ment that we are, however, willing, when the
treaty has been ratified, 10 agree to an arrange
ment similar 10 that Of last year, condition Of
Mutual confession of liability for damages. was
taken by the Senate TO be considerable con-
cession that there was a practical unanimlty Of
opinion that the arbitration treaty could be safely
ratified and the settlement of the disputed points
pushed on successfully and amicably.
The fact that Lord Salisbury had also notified
to owners OF Canadian sealers sailing now that
their liberty of sealing in Behring Sea might be
abridged, and that they were under liability OF
expusiA through an agreement on new modus
vivendi, also strongly urged in the Senate as
indicating that another close was about
TO be entered upon IN gOOd laltn
In view OF all these circumstances. it was
argued by Senator Sherman and others. that it
would be unnecessarily hostile and dscourteous
TO refuse an unconditional ratification, the ap-
proval of the convention in it's prcscnt form Being
no longer subject TO the uncertainties and dangers
which were supposed to he threatened by a failure
10 agree upon joint measures for the prot'cuon
Of seal life during the pendency of arbitration
In transmitting Lord Salisbury's note TO the
Senate. the President added 10 the formal letter
the statement that the reply was satisfactory 10
this Government and that he was preparing
suitable response The character of this response
was indicated briefly in the Presidents letter as
being substantial acceptance of Lord Salsbury's
tender with a few notifications that couIu oouo'
less he arranged without difficulty.
Although there can be no question that the re-
ceptiou of the communication has largely removed
sny doubt Of tie favorable action of the Senate
upon the treaty, there is still an element IN the
Senate that persists in urging the adoption oil
resolution requiring the President TO withhold the
exchange of ratifcations until the nodus Tvendl
is renewed and they include in their ranks t"o
members Of the Committee on Foreign Relatons-
Senators Frye and GIay-who made strong aTgu-
Ients in support Of their position. But the III
cidcuts of the last few days have cAlsci
change of mind on the part of many Senators who
a
further inroads were made upon the ranks Of the
opposition to-day as the result of Mr. Morgan >
exposition of the present diplomatic status of the
negotiations. One view put forth by Western
Senator has won many adhereDts TO the treaty
II was in substance that the United States had
everything 70 gain and nothing 10 lose by the
ratification OF the treaty. Assuming the worst
possible outcome Of the arbitration-a decision
against tie United States on each OF the points
submitted-it was argued that there still remained
enough of value in the seventh article OF ule
treaty to warrant its ratification. That articIe
pledges Great Britain 70 cooperate with the
Unitel States in the protection OF The seal
fisheries under regulations TO be formulated by
the arbitrators. so that even II damages TO
considerable amount were assessed against Che
United States and in favor of the British sealerS
the United States would receive in return the
assurance that the value OF the seal hsherlee
would be enhanced TO much larger amount
through efficient international protection.
Much of the debate to-day was devoted 10 the
question Of the damages that might he awarded
by the arbitrators for or against this country
Senator George took prominent part III DISCUSS
inc this point and, fortified by number OF au-
tborites proceeded 10 address the Senate at @rcat
I-pVtb. thr newsy feature Of his speech Dcing
eulovistic reference to President Harrlson's attl
tude in the negotiations.
No specific prediction as to the amount OF 'ho
damages was attempted but Senators ianiiiai
with the subject cited figures TO show that 'he
ooachers had secured $4,000 sealskins last year.
which meant the destruction of over 3oo wv seais
inasmuch as only small proportion ol eI' p"t
nu,olar of seals killed ut sea are pcOVercI. i,uC
IL was be eycd tlat not more than Io,VVV ni-9 sn
were taken in Bchring Sea proper anai o'", he
the Government valuation OF elO d ekin, Ti tn 1r
Sar,a.,o dar his country could rishuuly claim iot
asre asI years is Operations Of the poacher would not
be considerable On te olnGF oners %a assuming SS Ing
,Iot tScy rere illegally excluded from thc nGu td
waters T must have been much larger 'Ihn dis 5Ie
American. These considerations were result az, il
49, - tbst majority Of the Senate have con
Guided that public policy requires the ra'hc"''0"
Of the arbitration treaty ,,bo ooposcs rati