Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-04-02
Given to the Public.


department transmitted to the British min
lister the reply to Salisbury's refusal to join
this year, as last, in protecting the seals. 1t
says:
SIT is known to this government that seal
ers have fastened their departure to escape
the notice of a possible modus vivendi, and
that every day almost adds to the fleet that
must now be overhauled at sea. These YES
sells will, if not stopped and turned back, go
into Behring sea and pursue to the very
shores of our islands and slaughter mother
seals seeking the rookeries to be delivered
of their young. This is q crime against ma
ture. This government expects to show, If
arbitration proceeds that female seals con-
stitute the larger part of the catch of pelagic
sealers. That in view of this serious conten-
ton by this government, his lordship should
assume that another years suspension of
such sealing is not necessary to prevent an
undue dimunition of the seal hercG, and
should insist that, pending arbitration. 1t
shall go on precisely as if no arbitration had
been agreed upon, is as surprising as 1t Is
disappointing. If her majesty's government
so little respects the claims and contentious
of this government as to be unwilling to for
bear for single season to disregard them,
the president cannot understand why Lord
Salisbury should have promised and agreed
to give to those claims the dignity and stand
ing which reference to high court of arbi-
tration implies. From the moment arbitra-
ton was agreed upon, neither party was at
liberty to disregard the contentious of the
other. For it must not be forgotten that if
her majesty's government proceeds during
this sealing season, upon the basis of its con-
tention as to the rights of Canadian seal
ers, no choice is left to this government but
to proceed on the basis of its confident con-
tentions that pelagic sealing in the Behring
sea is an infraction of its jurisdiction and
,npfr r1rvb4 rlchi hor Il w
fail to see this. Herein, in the opinion of
the president, consists the gravity of the pres
ent situation, and he is no. willing to be
found in any degree responsible for the re-
suits that may follow the insistence by either
government this season upon the extreme
rights claimed by it. In his opinion it would
discredit, in the eyes of the world, the two
great governments involved, if the paltry
profits of single season should be allowed
to thwart or even disturb the honorable and
friendly adjustment of their differences,
which is SO nearly concluded. But, if his
lordship shall adhere to his refusal to unite
with us in prompt and etfectual measures to
stop pelagic sealing and shall insist upon
free sealing for British subjects, the question,
as it effects this government, is no longer one
of pecuniary loss or gam, but one of honor
and self respect. The president finds it diff
cult to believe that Lord Salisbury is serious
in proposing that this government shall take
separate bonds from the owners of about 100
Canadian sealing vessels to indemnify it for
the injury they may severally intlict upon its
jurisdiction or property, and must decline to
discuss the suggestion, which only his respect
for Salisbury and his belief that his lordship
has due appreciation of the gravity of this
discussion, enable him to treat with serious
ness. This government cannot consent to
have what it believes to be its right destroyed
or impaired pending their determination by
frih al a
security offered"
As to his lordship's suggestion that Cana
dian sealers may have some claim to COM
pensation if Great Britain shall restrain Pc
laglc sealing, the president directs me to say
that he Is not able to see how citizen or
subject or either of the treaty powers can by
any rule of law or equity support any claim
against their respective governments growing
out of such necessary trade restraints as the
government may lawfully impose to promote
larger conditions of public good and lnterna-
tional peace. The suggestion that the con-
illusions of the board of arbitration may not
be reached and announced in time to govern
the conduct of parties during the season of
1893 is, the president thinks, fully provided
against by the treaty itself. If the present
treaty is promptly ratified and exchanged,
our mutual interest would be an absolute
guaranty against delay. The president has
found no obstacle In the way of such consum-
Jn6IlOu, except the DSliel, now
prevalent here that the refusal of Great Britain
to agree to the preservation of the status quo
during arbitration, and her insistence that
pelaglc sealing shall go on to the injury if not
destruction of our rights, largely defeats the
object of the treaty.
The president directs me to say, In conclu-
sion. that the modus of last year is the least
this government can accept. In reason, the
restraints after treaty of arbitration should
be more absolute, not less. He does not de-
sire to protract this discussion, and having
now, in the most friendly spirit, submitted
the considerations which support the just de-
mand of this government that the property
which is the subject of agreed arbitration,
shall not be subject to spoliation pending ar
bitration, he expresses the hope that Lord
Salisbury will give prompt and friendly as
sent to a renewal of the modus. The presi-
dent will hear with regret if her majesty e
government continues to assert its right to
deal with this subject precisely as if no pro
vision had been made for the settlement OF
the dispute, and in that event this govern
meat will be compelled to deal with the sub
ject on the same basis and use every means
In its power to protect from destruction OF
serious injury the property and jurisdictional
rights which it has long claimed and enjoyed.
Tupper Eggs on Salisbury.