The Portland daily press., 1892-03-25
PORTLAND, MAINE MORNING, MARCH 25, 1892

arbitration either deals with the subject
of it solely upon the basis OF one conten-
tion and in utter disregard Qf the claims
Of the other. this end is not only not
attained but new senee OF injury and
injustice is arrived
ssIt must not be forgotten II Her Maj es-
ty's government proceeds during this
season upon the basis oI !ls contention
as to the rights of Canadlan sealers, no
choice is left to this government but to
proceed upon the basls OF Its sconfident
contention that pelaglc seallng in Beh-
ring sea is an infraelion u lIs Jurlsd1c-
ton and property rights. n the opinion
of the President, ~ Mpuiu olscredlt, IN
the eyes of the world, tne Two great gov
ernments involved II
The Paltry Profits of Single Season
should be allowed to thwart or even dis
turb the honorable and friendly adjust
nent of their difference, which is SO
nearly concluded. If His Lordship shall
adhere to his refusal to unite with us in
.nromnt and effective measures to stop
irsas.aoic sealing and shall insist upon
fH fraa sealing for British subjects, the
question @ as it affects this government is
No 1onoa, o.,see Of pending. pecuniary loss
or cain h,9t Of honor and self respect.
sSrhis1 goyernmenS. notwithstanding
the fact that its right to take seals upon
the Pribyloff islands is undisputed and
wholly uninvolyed in the arbitration pro-
noses to take no profit from the island
catch but to limit the taking of seals to
the necessities of the natives of those
islands. 1t cannot consent that, with
idemnitv or without, the contested
rights of British subjects to catch seals
in Behring sea shall be exercised pend
ing the arbitration.
1.-THE President finds it
Difficult to Believe that Lord Salisbury
is serious in proposing that this govern
ment take separate bonds from the owners
of about 100 Canadian sealing vessels to
idemnify it for the injury they may
severally infict upon our jurisdiction or
property and must decline to discuss a
suggestion which only his respect for
Lord Salisbury and his belief that his
Lordship has due appreciation of the
gravity of this discussion enable him to
treat with seriousness. We should
doubtless have to pursue and capture
upon the sea many owners of those YES
sells to secure the bonds suggested. As
the condition is to be that the obligers
shall pay any damages the arbitrators
may adjudge while the treaty gives the
arbitrators no power to adiudge any
damage, the transaction would be with
cut risk to the obligers and of no value
to us. This government cannot consent
to have what it believes to be its
rights destroyed or impaired
pending their determination by
an agreed tribunal however inadequate
the security offered. Reference in my
last note to the inconsistency of Her
Majesty's government in denying respon-
sibility for the acts Of Canadian sealers
was
Not Intended to Suggest Willingness
on our part, under the circumstances, to
see our property converted into a claim
for damages. M
GAS to His Lordship ssugg that
Canadian sealers may have some claim
for compensation if Great Britain shall
restrain Pelagic sealing, the President
directs me to say that he is not able to
see how citizens or subjects of either of
the treaty powers can, by any rule of law
or equity, support any claim
against their respective gov
ernlnents growing out of such
necessary trade restrictions as the
governments may lawfully impose to
promote larger considerations of public
good and international peace. The
President directs me to say in conclusion
that the modus of last year is the least
this government can accept. The Presi-
dent learns with regret Her Majesty IS
government continues to assert the
right to deal with this subject precisely
as if no provision was made for the set
Element of the dispute. In that event,
this government, as already pointed out,
will be compelled to deal with the sub
ject upon the same basis and use every
means in its power to prevent the destruc-
ton or injury of its property and the
jurisdictional rights it has long claimed
and enjoyed"