The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-25
Bering Sea Arbitration Ap.
proved by Senate Committee,
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS A FARCE.
Text Of President Harrison's Renly IN
Lord Salisbury's Letter.
Absurdity of the Proposition to Put
Poachers Under Bonds to Paw In
demnity-British Ships Assembling
at Esquimalt.

WASHINGTON CITY, March 4-It seeme
singular that, with grave emerpencv
confronting it and affairs of state trem.
bling In the balance, the United States
Senate should lose sight of the real issues
OF the moment and turn to scoring news.
papers for printing news in which peopIe
have legitimate interest. Yet such is a
TACT, and large part of the time during
which the Senate has been in executive
session in the past few days, when it was
supposed to be deyoting itself to the dis
charge ofits high function as advisory BODY
TO the president, has really been devoted
to querulous complaints of newspaper
enterprise, mutual recrimination for sus-
pected betrayal Of secrets, and searches
for hidden channels through which the
press obtains information Today the
Senate resortsd to the unprecedented de-
vice OF ordering the withdrawal of all its
heretofore trusted employees from the
chamber, excepting Secretary McCook.
The foreign affairs committee reported
through Sherman, recommending ratitica-
ton OF the Bering sea arbitration treaty.
Sherman pointed out the advantage to
United States from ready acouiescence
ana submission to arbitration, and how
Great Britain, by refusal of modus
vlvendi, would be placed in an un-
enviable light. Sherman also reported a
resolution from the committee. in the
nature of an Endorsement of the attitude
assumed by the president, and, in SUBJ
stance, assuring him of the support of
the Senate. The discussion was free from
1lngolsms, but revealed quiet determine
ton on the part of the Senate to maintain
the dignity of the nation and protect its
rights. There was no belief that war
would result from the present entangle-
ment, and for the second time this session
there was expressed the idea that as Great
Britain appeared to be stopped
from acting according to her
own best interests and principles of
common ustice through Difference to the
sentiment OF Canada, it would be we'll to
administer to the latter lesson by the
withdrawal of that priceless concession,
the privilege of the free shipment of pro-
ducts and goods through the United
States. No action was taken today on the
subject.
Indications are after further discussion
the treaty will be ratified. ANY idea of
the complication being used as means of
political issues was negatiyed by
the attitude of the Democratic senator's.
who, If possible, were more ardent than
their Republican colleagues in arguments
for the hearty support of the executive.
The correspondence received by the
Senate yesterday from the president rela-
tive to Bering sea has been made public.
The first communication is from Sir
Julian Pauncefote to Mr.. Wharton, under
date OF March 10, stating that he had re-
ceived reply from Lord Salisbury, who
again points out that the information in
the possession of her majesty's govern
ment does not lead him to believe another
years suspension of sealing is necessary to
prevent undue diminution of the seal
herds. His lordship, however, pro-
ceeds to observe that beyond this
question it is considered by the
American government that they have a
right to be protected from the loss they
may incur from free sealing this year, in
the event of their claims being upheld by
the arbitrators. He states that her ma
jesty's government does not dispute that
after ratification of the convention there
may be some foundation for this conten-
ton, but adds that prohibition OF ali sea-
ing as remedy has this effect: That
British sealers excluded from
Bering sea would have undoubted
grounds of complaint if the Brit sh
claims were upheld by the arbitrators.
Moreover, there is no security that the
arbitration will be concluded for long
period. In view of all the above consid-
erations it appears to her majestv's gov
ernment that it would be more equitable
to provide that sealers in Bering sea shall
give security for satisfying any damages
the arbitrators may adjudge. | shall be
glad to learn if the above suggestions
meet with the concurrene of your gov
eminent.
Under date of March %, Mr.. Wharton
replied as follows:
! am directed by the president TO saw that
your note of the 18th inst has had his immed-
late attention, in view OF what he deems the
extreme urgency and gravity of the matter.
rgency grows out OF the fact that further DELAY
Will make aay modus Intellectual to protect the
interests OF the Unit-d States and give Canadian
seaiess practical immunity. Il is known to this
government that sealers have hastened their de-
par,ure to escape notice OF possible modus,
and every day, almost, adds to the fleet that
must now be overhauled at sea. Already forty
seven Canadian vessels have cleared for the seal
Ing grounds, as against thirtv-One at the same
date last year, and are engaged in following
up and destroying the seal herds These vessels
will, If not stopped and TUNED back at the
passes, so into Bering sea and pursue to the verv
shores of our ISLANDS the slaughter of the mother
seals, seeking their accustomed Tookeries 10 be
delivered OF their young. This is e crime
against nature. This government expects to
show. If arbitration proceeds, that female seals
large portion of the catch
Of the pelsgio sealers. That, in view
Of this serious and confident contention
Of this government, his lordship should
assume that another years suspension of
such scaling is not necessary 80 prevent undue
diniuutlon OF seals" and should insist that.
pending arbitration, 1t should go on precisely as
ii no arbitration were agreed upon, is a, sur
prising as it is disappointing.
II her aaiesty's government so little resrscts
the claim snd contentious OF This government as
10 Re willing for single season to disregsrd
thsm, the president cannot understand why
Lord Salisbury should have proposed and
agreed 10 give 10 these Claims the
dignity and standing which reference to a
high court of arbitration implies. From the
moment arbitration was agreed upon neither
party was st liberty to disregard the eonten-
tions of the other. Il must be sssumsi that the
si-cers purpose OF the two govern Aents was to
promote peace and good will, but if, psauiug ar
titration. either deals with the subject OF it
solely upon the basis of its own contention, and
in utter Disregard of the claims OF the other
this friendly end is not only not attained, but a
new sense or injury and injustice is added,
even ii it should be found possible
to proceed with an arbitration under
such conditions; for IL must not be forgotten
that her Esiesty's government Procseds during
tGis sealing season upon the basis of its conten-
ton IS TO the right. OF Canadian seslers, and 40
choice Is left this government bat to proceed