Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-03-31
Presidents Message Transmitting
Late Correspondence.
&t nfscioses Grave Situation-Lord Sails
oarS's Position Sharply Criticised
by the President-How Will
1t All End?


states ia the waters of the Behring sea, and
7conceTning also the preservation of the fur seal
IN ADJ habitually resorting to the said sea and
1hs rights of the citizens and subjects Of either
country as regards the taking of fur seal in or
nabttuaiiy resorting to the said waters.
tSsaedi BENZ. HARRISON,
Executive Mansion, Washington, March q
8sz1-
Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr.. blaine.
This note should have accompanied the mes
sage OF the president to the senate of March 9
Asa2. but having been mislaid it failed to be
communicated to that body. It is reply to
Mr. Bia!ne's note of February IL, 1892, which
Fnent No S., Fifty second congress, first ses-
4sioaI
BRITISH LEGATION. !
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb b. 1892
DEAR Mr.. BLAINE: In reply to your letter OF
yesterday beg to state that in my opinion the
British commissioners right in holding that
sheY have no power under their pre- sent man
s1ate TO discuss the question of a moius vivendi
for fhe next fishery season Their authority is
limited by the terms of the joint commission
agreement which we signed on the 18th of De-
cezlfbar last. That authority is confined to re-
porting their views on what fishery regulations
Of permanent character may be necessary
~ it'll view to arbitration.
Ths question of modus vivendi pending the
result of the arbitration, is one for the two
governments to discuss l have certainly
urged as an additional reason for the early
meeting of the joint commission. that its re-
ports would furnish valuable materials for such
discussion; but it can hardly be contended that
che commissioners can properly deal with such
n question without special authority from their
respective governments. I communicated to
Lord Salisbury the proposal you made to me at
SUR interview of the "a inst, that our two gov
s.r1IH,ents should agree to a rnodus vivendi, and
arm awaiting his lordships reply.
remain. etc.
tSignedi JULIAN PAUNcEFoTE.
Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr.. Wharton.
BRITISH LEGATION
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 10, 1892.
SIR On receipt of your note of the Sth inst.
Z Immediately telegraphed to the marquis Of
Salisbury the substance of its contents in .
s>Ortiance with the request which you expires sec
zsu tue behalf Of the president, and have now
the honor to inform you that have this day re =
Ceivsd a reply from his lordshp. by telegram.
ED the following effect: Lord Salisbury again
points out that the information in the posses
sion of her majesty's government does not lead
them to believe that another years
suspension of sealing Is necessary to prevent
undue diminution of the seal herds. His
1ordsbiD, however, proceeds to observe that be-
-yond this question it is considered by your gov
s,rnmei,t that they have a 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 being upheld by
: she arbitrators. He states that her majesty,
government don't dispute that after the ratlfi
cation of the convention there will be some
Foundation for this contention; but he add,
that the prohibition of all sealing as a remedy
has this defect. that the British sealers ex
scilded from Behring sea- would have ar
.1ndoabted ground OF complaint if the
British claim should be upheld by the
-arf1itrators. Moreover there is security tina,
the arbitration will be concluded before the
sealing season of 1898. Thus an arbitration be
tween Great Britain, the United States an6
Portugal, which has already occupied fou'.
be caused to the industry by suspension o.,
sealing for long Period In view of all tn,
above considerations it appears to her majesty
government that it would be equitable to pre-
ride that sealing in Bebring sea shall continu, ,
on the condition that the owner of every seal
ing vessel shall give security for satisfying any
damages which the arbitrators may adjudge.
shall be glad to learn that the above sug-
syestions meet with the concurrence of your
government.
have the honor, etc
fSignedl JULIAN PAUNcEForE.
AIR. Wharton to Sir Julian Pauncefote.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WAsuINGToN, March .. 1892.
SIR: 1 am directed by the president to say
that your note dated the 10th inst. and deli,
cred on the 10th inst. Sunday has had his iIr-
mediate attention in view of what he deems tc
DE the extreme urgency and gravity of the maj:
Ter Ender discussion The urgency grows
-out of the fact that much further pro-
traction of this discussion will make ary
znotlas that may be agreed upon Intellectual
70 protect the interests of the United States and
viii give to the Canadian sealers practical I'M
Fnunity Ivy reason of the impos5ibility of COM
mrnicating to them the agreed restrictions. It
Il known to this government that the seals rs
have fastened their departure to escape mott ce
Ut a possible modus, and that every day, almost.
adds to the feet that must now be overhaul ed
al sea. Already forty seven Canadian vessels
Sease cleared for the sealing grounds las aga INST
thirty one at the same date last year,, and ere
engaged in following up and destroying the se.J
Geais. These vessels will, if not stopped, AMI
ztugned back st the passes. go into the Behrin,,
and pursue to the very shores of our islands
ehs slaughter of the mother seals seeking the
accustomed rookeries to be delivered of then
SUung. This is crime against nature. This
government expects to show. if the arbitration
proceeds, that female seals constitute the
larger per cent of the catch of the pelagic seal
That in view of this serious and confident
contention of this government his lordship
should assume that another years suspension
OF ouch sealing is not necessary to prevent An
xlntiue diminution of the seal herds and should
insist that pending an arbitration 1t shall go OIL
precisely as il no arbitration had been agree
upon is 5 surprising as it is disappointing. -
her maiestys government so little respects tb'
Claims and contentious OF this government IS
TO Ike unwilling to forbear for single season +,
disregard them the president cannot under
stand why Lord Salisbury should have pre-
posed and agreed to give to these claims tb.
dignity and standing which a reference to 3
high court of arbitration implies. From tbs
moment an arbitration was agreed upop,
neither party was at liberty to disregard thu
contentious of the other.
1t must be assumed that the sincere purpose
Of the two governments was to promote peace
and good WILL but if pending the arbitration
che basis of its own contention and in utter dis
res:sra of the claims Of the other, this friendly
end as not only not attained but q new sense of
injury and injustice is added even il it should
be found possible to proceed with an arbitra-
. tion under such conditions. For it must not be
forgotten that if her majesty's government
proceeds during this sealing season upon
SIZE basis Of its contention as to the
rights of the Canadian sealers, nc
x,hescs is left to this government but to proceed
v.Iysn the basis of its confident contention that
,,elagic sealing in the Behring is infrac
tion of its jurisdiction and property rights.
His Iordship will hardly fail TO see this. Herein,
IN the opinion of the president. consists the
gravity of the present situation, and he is not
wiling to be found in any degree responsible
for the results that may follow the insstence
g,y either government dur.og this sea-
son upon the extreme rights claimed
by it. In his opinion it would
saiscredit in the eyes of the world the two
great governments involved il the paltry profits
off a single season should be allowed TO thwart
or even to disturb the honorable and friendly
adjustment of this difference, which is so nearly
concluded. But if his lordship shall adhere to
mis- refusal to unite with US in prompt and eff
sectiye measures, to stop pelagic sealing and
shall insist upon free sealing for British sub