St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-25
Senator's Turn From Weighty
Matters to Score Alert
Newspapers.
Trusted Employees Excluded
and determinations In
dulged In.
Resolution Reported Indors-
ing Harrison's Stand on
the Behring Matter.
Last Letters Of Wharton and
Pauncefote Touching the
Difference.

WASHINGTON, March 24.-lt seems
singular, with the grave emergency
confronting it, and affairs of state
trembling in the balance. that the
United States senate should lose sight
of the real issues of the moment and
turn to scoring newspapers tor print
ing news in which the people have a
legitimate interest. Yet such is the
fact, and large part of the time during
which the senate has been in executive
session for the past few days, supposed
to be devOting itself to the
discharge of its high function
as advisory body to the
president. has really been devoted
to querulous complaints of newspaper
enterprise, mutual recrimination for q
suspected betrayal of secrets, and
searches for hidden channels through
which the press obtains information.
Today the senate reSorted to the un-
precedented device of ordering the
withdrawal of all its heretofore trusted
employees from the chamber, excepting
Secretary McCook.
The foreign affairs committee re-
ported, through Mr.. Sherman, recon-
mending the ratification of the Behring
sea arbitration treaty. He pointed out
The advantage to the United States from
ready acquiescence in the Subm!sSlonto
arbitration, and how Great Britain, bv
q refusal Of the modus vivendi. would
be placed in
An UDenYiable Light.
Mr.. Sherman also reported resolu-
ton from the committee in the nature
of an Endorsement of the attitude as
sumed by the president and, in sub
stance, assuring him of the support of
the senate. f,a-
The discussion was free from jingo-
ism, but revealed quiet determinatigl
on the part of the senate to maintain
the dignity of the nation and protect its
rights. There was no belief that war
would result from the present entangle-
nent, and for the second time this seS-
sion there was expressed the idea that
as Great Britain appeared to be
eStopped from acting according
to her own best interests and principles,
in common justice, through Difference
to the sentiment of Canada, it would be
well to administer to the latter lesson
by the withdrawal of that priceless con-
ceSSiOn-the privilege OF free shipment
of products and goods through the
United States. There was 10 action
taken OH the subject. Indications are
that after further discussion the
treaty will be ratified. Any idea of the
complication being used as means of
affecting political issues is negatived by
the attitude of the Democratic senators.
who, if possible, are more ardent than
their Republican colleagues in asking
for most hearty support of the exeeu-
tive. q.
The Last Letters.
At the conclusion of the executive
session of the senate today, which lasted
four hours. the correspondence received
yesterday from the president relative to
Behring sea was made public. 1t COM
priSeS two communications. as follows,
the first being from Sir Julian Paunce-
fote TO Mr.. Wharton:
British Legation, Washington, March
49,, lS92.-Sir: On receipt of your note of
the Sth inst l Immediately telegra pied
to tile Marquis of Salisbury the sub
stance of its contents, in accordance
with the request which you expressed
on behalf of the president, and | have
now the honor to inform you that
/ have this day received reply
from his lor1ship by telegram
to the following effect: Lord Salisbury
again points out that the information in
the possession of her majesty'S govern
ment does not lead them to believe that
another years suspension of sealing is
necessary to prevent an undue diminu-
ton of the seal herds.
His lordShip, however. proceeds to OBJ
serve that beyond this question it is con-
sidered by your government that they
have right to be protected from the
loss which they may incur from free
sealing being permitted this year, in
the event of their claim to Behring sea
being upheld blythe arbitrators. He states
that her majesty's government does
not dispute that after the ratification
of the convention there will be some
foundation for this contention, but he
adds that the prohibition of all sealing
as remedy has this defect, that, the
British Sealers excluded from Behring
sea, would have an undoubted ground
of complaint if the British claims
should be upheld by the arbitrator.
Moreover, there is no security that the
arbitration will be completed before the
sealing season of 1898. Serious damage
would be caused to the industry by a
suspension of sealing for long period.
In view of all the above consideration,
it appears to her majesty's government
that it would be more equitable to pro-
vide that sealing in Behring sea shall
continue on the condition that the
owner of every sealing vessel shall give
security for satisfying any damage
which the arbitrators may adjudge. L
shall be glad to learn that the above
suggestions meet with the concurrence
of your government. have the honor,
etc., JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.
Delay Deprecated.
Department of State, Washington,
March %, 1S92-Sir: l am directed by
the president to say that your note
dated the 10Th inst. and delivered on
the goth inst. Sunday has had his I'M
mediate attention, IN view of what he
deems to be the extreme urgency and
gravity of the matter under discussion.
The urgency grows out of the fact that
much further protraction of this dis
cussion will make any modus that may
be agreed upon Intellectual to protect
the interests of the United States and
will give to the Canadian sealers praeti7
cal immunity, by the reason of the im+
possibility of communicating to them
the agreed restrictions.
1t is known to this government that
the sealers have fastened their depart
ure to escape notice of possible modus.
and that every day almost adds to the
fleet that must now be overhauled at
sea. Already forty-seven Canadian
vessels have cleared for the sealing
grounds. as against thirty-one at the
same date last year, and are engaged In
following up and destroying the seal
herds. These vessels will,if not stopped