Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-04-07
Tho Bering Sea Controversy.

A correspondent asks if the Bering Sea
question was before the Cleveland admin
istration, and what was the position as
sumed by it as to the extent of American
rights therein. A treaty was negotiated
by Secretary Bayard with the British gov
crnfnent which, II ratified, would have
settled all disputes in regard to the fisheries
on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
But this treaty was rejected by Il partisan
Senate, solely for the purpose Of depriving
a Democratic administration of the credit
of having made settlement of the CON
troversy.
While Secretary Bavard never for one
moment assumed that this country pos
sessed Il right of territorial jurisdiction
over Bering Sea, he was successfully en-
gagged in negotiations with Great Britain
and other maritime powers for the protec
ton Of seals in Boring Sea from destruction.
But when liarrison's administration came
in the claim of jurisdiction over Boring
Sea was renewed, Secretary Blaine support
ing the claim upon the title deeds which
Russia had transferred to the United
States with the sale of Alaska territory.
But John Quincy Adams, as Secretary Of
State, as early as 1921 showed the Car Of
Russia that sovereignty over Boring Sea
did not belong to him. The ear. there
fore, could not sell to the United States
what he never owned.
Finding the claim of territorial iurislic-
| ton over Rering Sea utterly untcnable,
| Secretary Blaine supplemented ii for the
| first time with another TO the effect that,
| though jurisdiction might be wanting. all
| the seals swimming in that water to and
| from the Pribilof Islands belonged to the
| United States This was the first time that
u claim Of private property in wild ami
mails roaming the ocean had ever been set
| up. If Boring Sea be not within the ex-
elusive jurisdiction of the United States, it
is not easy to see how the scamen catching
| seals in that water three LIENS from shore
can be treated as trespassers This, never
theless, is what President Harrison threat
ened to do if the British government
should not consent to renew the modus
| Yivendi Of last year. To this the British
minister responded by reierringto his note
of July, 1880, to which he threatened TO
adhere unless the treaty OF arbitration
! should be ratified.
Happily, the treaty has been ratified by
| q unanimous Senate, without any embar-
RAISING conditions, and the ground has
been cut away from the Jingoes ON both
sides of the ocean. by crooked route the
administration has reached the position
| held by Secretary ljayard four years ago
IN supporting the treaty the action of The
Democratic senators is III most favorable
contrast with that of the Republican sen
| ators in regard to the fisheries treaty with
Great Britain negotiated by Cleveland.
distinguished Secretary Of State. The arbi
traitors will soon determine the rights Of
this government in Boring Sea. But an at
tempt to maintain by force Of arms {
vague and looso claim of jurisdiction Ovel
that part of the Pacific Ocean, as well as
claim of property in its seals, would hav,
been IN act of irrcdeemaDle folly and
wickedness.