St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-29
BRITAIN BACKS DOWN
Uncle Sam Credited With a
Victory in the Diplomat
ic Field.
Lord Salisbury's Consent to
Renew the Modus Vivendi
So Construed.
Harrison's Response Will Be
an Acceptance Of the
Terms Proposed.
Opposition to Ratification Of
the Treaty Disappearing
in the Senate.


dent, stating the grounds upon which
he would consent to renew the modus
vivendI as to Behring sea, was laid be-
fore the senate soon after it went into
executive session this afternoon. The
publication of the full text of the docu-
ment in the morning papers had given
the senators an opportunity to acquaint
themselves with it before the formal
presentation. In transmitting the pa
per to the senate the president added to
it a letter stating that Lord SaliSbury'S
reply was very satisfactory to this gov
eminent, and that it was preparing q
suitable response.
The character of this response was
indicated brie fly in the presidents let
ter as being substantial acceptance of
Lord Salisbury's tender. with a few
notifications that could doubtless be
arranged without difficulty. There can
be 10 question that the reception of the
communication has largely removed any
doubt of the favorable action of the
senate upon the treaty, and in fact
when an adjournment was had it was
the general belief that the treaty would
be ratified tomorrow, and without any
conditions or resol utions that might
operate to defeat the completion of the
negotiations.
Want a Certainty.
There Is still an element i'll the senate
that persists in urging the adoption of a
resolution requiring the president to
withhold the exchange OF ratifications
until the modus vivendi is renewed, and
they include in their ranks two MEM
bers of the committee on foreign rela-
tions-Senators Frye and Gray, who
made strong arguments in support of
their position. Bat the developments of
the last few days have. caused change
of mind on the part of many sem
ators who at first had taken
that view of the case, and fur
Their inroads were made upon the
ranks of the opposition today as the re-
suit of Mr.. Morgan's exposition OF the
present diplomatic status OF the nego-
tiati0ns.
One view put forth by Western SEN
ator has won many adherents to the
treaty. 1t was in substance that the
United States had everything 10 gain
and nothing to lose by tue ratification
of the treaty. Assuming the worst
possible outcome of the arbitration
a decision against the United States on
each of the points Submitted--it
it was argued that there still
remained enough of value in the
seventh article of the treaty to
warrant its ratification. That article
pledges Great Britain to cooperate with
the United States i'll the protection of
the seal fisheries, under regulations to
be formulated by the arbitrators. So
that even if damages to a considerable
amount were assessed against the
United States and i'll favor of the Brit
ish sealers, the United States would re-
ceive in return the assurance that the
value of the seal fisheries would be en-
HANGED to a much larger amount through
efficient international protection.
Question OF Damages.
Much of the debate today was devoted
to the question of the damages that
might be aw9rded by the arbitratOrs for
or against this country. Senator George
to0K prominent part in discussing this
point, and proceeded to address the
senate at length, the newest feature OF
his speech being an eulogistic reference
negotiations. No specific prediction as
to the amoant of damages was attempt
ed, but senators familiar with the sub
ject cited figures to show that the pOach-
ers had secured $1,000 sealskinS last
year, which means the destruction of
over 300,0 900 seals, inaSmuch as only
small proportion of the total number OF
seals killed at sea are recovered.
But it was believed that not more
than 16, 900 skins were taken in Behring
sea proper, and, taking the govern
ment valuation of $40 per skin,
the damage we could rightfully
claim for last years operations of
the poachers would not be considera-
BILE. On the other hand, the loss sus-
tanned by the Canadian vessel owners,
assuming that they were illegally ex-
cIuded from the seal waters, must have
been much larger than our own. These
considerations were all discussed at
great length today, and as result it
appears that majority of the senate
have concluded that public policy
Requires Ratification
of the arbitration treaty. A prominent
Western senator, who opposes ratfica-
ton of the treaty without resolution
withholding final exchange of agree
until England agrees to renew the
modus, and who has vigorously adyo-
Gated this position in executive session,
said tonight that he was confident he
voiced the sentiment of majority in
saying that Lord Salisbury's reSDones to
the presidents last letter, published
this morning. shows decided diplO-
matte victory for this government, and
virtually a backdoWn OIL Great Brit
tain's part from the elevated position
on the contention to which she has ten
aciously chung during the correspond |
ence. He expressed no doubt OF final
without the resolution, and |
said that while many sen ators were OPP |
posed to taking this action upon it, he |
felt no doubt that it would be probably |
returned to the president in |
the form it was sent to the senate, with |
out any instructions Wha tever.
Incidentally it appeared during the |
debate that Senator Sherman paid
high tribute TO Lord Salisbury's diplo- |
matte ability. He had been asked for |
his opinion upon the last letter, and re- |
piled that while it appeared TO concede |
everything. it really held onto every |
claim.
The War Sprite Sails.
SANTA BARBARA, CAL, March Is
The British cruiser War Sprite sailed |
from here today, her destination being |
Esquimault. In speaking of Behring |
sea matters. some of her chief officers |
said it was improbable they would go to |
Behring sea, but they would know |
nothing certain as to future movements |
until they reached British Columbia.