Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-15
SLOW DIPLOMACY.
The Behring Sea Treaty Still
Waits on Salisbury.
NO WORD FROM THE ETARDY PREMIER

A Long Discussion in the Senate That
Seems to Have Been Waste of Time and
Words - Senator MorriIl's Condition
Not Improved, and Death Looked for
Mt Any Moment-A Sweeping Reform
in the Civil Service Proposed-The POST
office Bill Passed.
WASHINGTON, March 15.-The second ex-
| ecutIve session of the senate yesterday
| afternoon was devoted to disc ussion of
Behrlng sea matters, which had nothing
definite as its object and from which moth
ing definite resulted. The session was
called shortly after the receipt of two
documents transmitted by President Har-
rlson, and was doubtless more or less in
pursuance of a consultation earlier in the
day, at which were present the president.
attorney general, and Senator Sherman,
chairman Of the committee on foreign
affairs. General j. w. Foster, who is in
charge of the Behrng sea negotiations
and eX-Minister L. J. Phelps, who will be
the counsel Of the United States
before the board of arbitrators under the
present treaty, also called at the White
House and had conference with the
president.
Reports of the Seal Agents.
The documents sent to the senate proved
to be the reports OF the Behring sea agents
provided for in the ninth article of the
pending treaty, who were appointed and
did their work practically before the treaty
was signed. The conclusions arrived at
by these commissioners, Sir Baden Powell
and Mr.. Dawson for Great Britain, and
Professors Merriam and Mendenhall for
the United States, are given in three sep
arate documents-a joint report on points
upon which they agreed, and separate re-
ports on the points upon which they could
not agree. The agents are said to have
agreed upon the point that relagic sealing
Will inevitably result in the destruction of
the seal herds.
Talked Over the Whole Subject.
While the senate remained in executive
session general debate took place upon
the whole subject, but no action was pro-
posed and no action taken. The treaty
still remains with the committee on for
elgn relations and is not expected in the
senate until after reply has been received
from Lord Salisbury to the note from the
president of the Sth inst. That reply has
not yet been received. The point was
made, in the course of the debate that in
asmuch as Lord Salisbury had refused to
admit TO the treaty provision for arbi
trating the question of damages growing
out of the illegal acts by Canadian seal
poachers. declining to assume any respon-
sIbllity for their acts, he would not inter
1ere by the use of the naval power of Eng
land to defend those poaching vessels
against any steps that the United States
might take to protect the seals.
The Nub of the Controversy.
OF course, if the arbitrators found that
in protecting the seals the United States
vessels or authorities committed anv I'M
lawful acts it would be responsible there |
for. Notwithstanding this, the opinion
was generally expressed that the United |
States should undertake to the full extent |
of its ability to protect the seals. The best |
means of doing this was, however, a sub !
Ject upon which differing opinions were |
held. As stated in the report of Con |
sui Myers at Victoria, B. c.. many of the |
poaching vessels have cleared for the seal |
ing grounds much earlier than usual. fear |
ing that the modus vivendi may be re-
newed and hoping by this early start to |
avoid notice of that fact
Waiting for Salisbury.
How to reach these vessels that have al |
ready gone is problem that is engaging |
the attention of the authorities, who say, |
however, there are several ways BY which |
they can be reached Particulars. how
ever, are not vouchsafed to the general in
quirer. There is no change in the situa-
ton and the ,;creotyped reply to the ques-
tiOns on the subject is given: "We are |
awaiting Salisbury's reply to the note of |
the Sth instant