The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-19
THE BERlNG SEA AGREEMENT.
Sent to the Senate-It Is q Fair Com
promise,

WASHINGTON CITY, April 1S.-The modus
vivendi for the protection of the Bering
sea seal fisheries during the pendancy of
arbitration, which has been the subject of
negotiation between Blaine and the Brit
ish minister, was brought to the capitol
this afternoon. For some reason not now
apparent it was under an injunction of
secrecy, and therefore was not laid before
the Senate in open session. Sherman,
however, was notified by the president of
the nature of the communication, and he
moved that the Senate go into ex-
ecutive session. Accordingly, the people
were cleared out of the galleries and the
doors closed. Then the seals were broken
and the modus read to the Senate. 1t ap-
peared from the reading of the document
that Blaine and the British minister had
spent the time since the British govern
ment consented to renew the modus in
trying to phrase conditions rela-
tive to damages to secure adyan-
ments. 1t appeared that Great Britain's
reluctance in consenting to renewal was
assumed for the purpose of obliging this
government to accept terms which would
insure Great Britain against heavy loss in
tors, and promise the assessment of such
sum against the United States as would
partially heal the soreness still felt by
British diplomats at the formidable judg-
ment rendered against them by the Geneva
arbitration. Blaine endeavored to bring
the statement of liabilities to the basis laid
down in Wharton's note of July 22-23 last.
while the British government sought to
escape direct responsibility for the war
rantable killing of seals and anything
more than the difference between the 1900
skins which the lessees of the seal islands
took and the loo, 600 skins they might have
taken had the modus of last year not been
enforced.
The agreement is said to be a fair mean
between the two extreme propositions.
1t appears that, unlike the first modus, it
will require the approval of the Senate
inasmuch as it proposes permanent set
tlement of the damage and provides for a,
means of adjusting claims. The discus
sion was in the same vein that character
lied the preceding debates. The docu-
ment was finally referred to the committee
on foreign relations.
OTTAWA, April 1S.-The final report of
the Bering sea commissioners, DR.. George
NJ. Dawson and Sir Baden-Powell, IN the
investigations of last year, has been COM
pleted and they will proceed to England
this week to present the report to the i'm
perial government.
VICTORIA, April 1S.-TSpeciaI. III. NJ. s.
Champion reached here from Acapulco to-
day. She brings no news, and had an un-
eventful trip. The officers state that they
were ordered up to Victoria by Admiral
Hothan, presumably on account of Bering
sea matters. The Champion will refit here
and proceed to Vancouver to bring over
the men who arrive as supernumeraries
for the warships on the 25th. Her future
movements are uncertain.
PoRr TOWNSEND, April 1S.-[Special. l.
The United States steamer Mohican ar
rived this evening from Esquimalt and is
awaiting instructions from Washington
City before proceeding to Bering sea. The
Adams and Patterson are still in port.