Omaha daily bee., 1892-03-25
SALISBURY'S LAST LETTER
Full Text of the English Prsmier's Note
Submitted to the Senate.
PRESIDENT HAERIsoWs ANSWER TO IT
Complete Statement OF the Be=ing Sea Dis
pute in rs Present status-Engiand's
Proposition and Americas
Prompt Reply.

Prompt Reply.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. March "a. AT the con-
clusion of the executive session OF the senate,
which lasted four hours the correspondence
received yesterday from the president,
relative 70 Bering SEA, was nlie public. 1t
comprises two communications as follows:
sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr.. Wharton.
BatrISH LEGATION, WAsuINGroS, d, c,
March l9, 1S9!-Sir: On receipt Of your
note OF the sth inst | tnmeu lately tele-
Graphed TO marquis OF llisolry the SUD-
stance of its contents "a accordance with the
request whlch you expressed on behalf OF the
president and | have the honor 10 iu-
form you that have received this day re
plv from MS lordship BY telegram to the fol-
lowing effect
Lord Salisbury again points out that the
in formation in the possession of her majesty
government does not lead them 10 believe
that another years suspension of the sealing
is necessary 70 prevent undue dlminution
of the seal herds. His loriship, however,
proceeds to observe that beyond this ques-
ton il Is considered by your government that
they have right TO be protected from the
loss which they may incur from free sealing
being permitted this year, even II their claim
| to Bering sea be upheld by the sruitrauors.
| He states that her malesty's govern rent does
not dlsrute that after the ratification of the
convention there will be some foundation for
| this contention. But be adds that the pro-
hibition of al sealing as remedy has this
defect That the British sealers, excluded
from Berlng sea, would have an uncoubted
ground for complaint if the British claims
should be upneld by the aroi.rators.
Moreover there is no security that
| the arbitration will be concluded before the
| sealing season of 1893 Thus an arbitration
| between Great Britain, the United States
and Portugal, which has already occupied
| four years, is still pending Serious dam
| ages would be caused to the industry by
| suspension of sealing for Ioug period. In
| view of ali the above considerations, IL ap-
pears 10 her maiesty's govern ment that it
| " ould be more equitable to provide that seal
| ing shall continue on the condition that the
| owner OF every sealing vessel shall give Sc
curlty for satisfying any damages which the
aroitrators may adjudge. l shall be glad 10
| learn that the above suggestions meet with
| the concurrence of your government. Fave
the honor, etc, JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.
Mr. Wharton to Sir Julinn Pauncefote.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, D. c.,
! March ~ lS93.-Sir: | am directed oy the
president 10 say that your note dated the
| 18th and received the 20th has hau his iElme-
! date attention, IN view of what he deems 10
| pc the sxtreme urgency ana gravity of the
| matter under discussion The urgency
grows out OF the fact that much further pro-
| traction OF this discussion Wi! make any
| modus that may be agreed Upon Intellectual
| 10 project LQE interest Di Tie L Cl4OCl -LALGSs
| and viii give 10 ths Canadian sealers practl-
| cal immunity BY reason of the imDossloiIlty
| Of communicating 10 them the agreed restric-
| tioas.
| II is known to this govern ment that the
! seaIers have hasteued their departure to es-
! cape notice of a possible modus and that
| every day almost adds TO the feet that must
| now be overhauled al sea. Already forty
| seven Canadian vessels nave cleared for the
| sealing grounds as against thlrty-one at the
| same date last year, and are engaged in fol-
| lowing up and destroying tie seal herds
| These vessels will, if not stopped anG turned
| back at the passes go into the Bsrlng sea
| and pursue TO the very shores of cur Islands
| the slaughter of the mother seals seeking the
| rookerles to be delivered of their young.
/ This is crime against nature. This govern
| ment expects 20 show, If the arbitration pro-
ceeds, that female seals constitute the larger
| part Of the catch Of the pe!agic sealers.
Surprising and Disappointing.
That in view of tnis serious contention Of
| this government his lordshlp should assume
| that another years suspension Of such seal
! ing IS not necessary TO prevent an undue
| diminution OF the seal herds and should in
| sisJ that pending an arbitration it shall 90
| on. precisely as If no arbitration mad been
| agreed upon, IS surprising as il is disap-
| pointing. If her malesty's govern ment so
little espects the Claims and contentious of
this government as to be unwilling TO for
| bear for slcEle season 10 disregard them.
| the president cannot understand why Lord
| Salisbury should have proposed and agreed
| TO give TO those claims the dignity and stand
! ing which 4 reference TO a high court Of ar
| bitratlOn Implies. From the moment an
| bluration was agreed upon, neither party
| was at liberty 10 disregard the contentious
| of the other IL must be assu med that since
the purpose Of the two governments was to
| promote peace and good VIII, but II pending
| the arbitration either deals with the subject
| OF II solely on the basis of its
own con ten tlon, and in utter disregard Of
| the CLAIMS Of The either, this friendly eud is
| not only not attained, but new sense of in
| jury and injustice is added. even If 1t should
| oe found posi- Bile To proceed with an arb-
| trauen under such condiuOns. For 1t must
| not be forgotten thar. II her malestv's gov
| ernmenr proceeds during this sealing season
| upon the basis of its contention as TO the
| rights of the Canadians sealers, no choice Is
| left 70 this government but to proceed the
basis of its confident contention that Delagic
| sealILg in the Bering sea IS an IuiracLon of
its jurisdiction and property rights His
| lordship will hardly fail TO see this. Herein.
! IN The opinion OF nc president consists the
! gravity OF he present situation. and he is
| not willing 10 Ue found in any degree re-
| sIursib bie for the results thai may follow the
| insstsuce by either government durng this
| season upon the extreme rights clai med by
| IL
! Is a Question OF Honor.
In his opinion il would discredit in the
ewes Of the world the two great governments
| Involved II the paitry PROFITS Of single sea
| son should be allowed TO uhwarr or even To
| disturb the honorable and friendly adjust
| meut Of their differences, which is so nearly
| conciuGed, but II MS lordship snail adhere 10
| his refusal 10 unite with Us in a prompt and
| effective measure 10 stop pei lgic sealing and
! snail insist upon free sealing for British sub
lects, the question, il affects this govern
ment is no longer o. 9 of pCcul.a~y less or
gain, but one OF honor una selI-res pect.
This govern melt Notwithstanding the fact
that its right 70 take seals on the Prlbyloff
ISLANDS Is undlsputed, and wholly uninvulved
IN the arbitration, has proposed to taKe no
profit from the Island catch. but limit the
taxing Of seals 10 The necessities of the ma
tives of the Islands, ana 1t canncu consent
with indemnity CT W. l.hout That the con
tested rights Of British subjects TO catch