Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-21
LORD sALIsBURy.s REPLp
Ne Modus vivendf. hut an Unders,ansinr An
Regard to the Seal Poachers

WHAT n SAID At THE srArE DEPARrxESr<-rHE
PRESIDENT has A CONFERENCE on rAE SUR
JEcr-H WILL STAND FIRM IN HIS pErEIisrsA-
TON TO PROTECT TEE SEALS
The reply OF Lord Salisbury to the last lttter
from Secretary Blaine. with relation TO she
modus vivendi. has been received. The reply
is declared to be unsatisfactory. inssmuoh a.
Lord Salisbury refuses TO renew the moius.
Ii is said that there is nothing in this re-
fusal however. to occasion fear OF conflict
between this country and Great Britain. The
reply Is one thing and the understanding be-
tween the two countries is another. While
Lord Salisbury refuses TO join this country IN
the efforts TO preserve the seal il is said there
is an implied understanding that IL the United
States sends vessels to Boring sea 10 keep of
poachers there will be no British men-of-war
there 10 interfere. In other words. while
Great Britain will. il Difference TO pubic
sentiment IN Canada, refuse 20 put any OBJ
strrcton In the way OF the Canadian poachers,
she Will not so to war with this country in
their defense and will no; place herself in
danger Of a conflict.
The expectation is that this country will al
once send vessels 10 Bering sea and will put
into operation a vigorous policy Tor the pro-
lection of the seal.
II Canadian sealers are captured the prob
ability Is that the only fighting Lord Salisbury's
government Will do will be in tie courts, and
possibly before court OF arbitration author
ized to consider the question Of damages
OFFICIALS EEIIoESr.
Officials were reticent TODAY respecting the
contents of the reply Of Lord Salisbury to the
note of President Harrison of the sth instant
One gentleman. whose position entities his
statement TO full credence. SAYS that no great
| Importance is attached TO the reply. Ii is in
ferred that the meaning of that statement Is
that The substance OF the reply had been dis
counted and that 1t was not important in the
sense that it contained nothing new.
! Lord Salisburys persistence as shown an the
correspondence on the subject between the two
/ governments and the intimation conveyed in
the London dispatches of last Friday that the
reply would reiterate his loriship's refusal to
/ renew the modus yivendi. are believed to be a
sufficient indication of the tenor of the commu-
nication received yesterday.
Certain it is that The President and
| his cabinet have been proceeding for
some time No if upon the theory that the
! reply would show no change in Lord Sails
| bury position, and carly as las; Friday il
was known of the adoption by the cabinet of
an aggressive policy for the protection of the
seals. In preparing orders to carry out that
policy Secretary Tracy has been busily en-
gagged. SO busy that Saturday he excused
himself to Senators who called at the depart
ment. Saturday night ;he subject was under
consideration by President Harrison until q
| late hour.
VIVA: additional steps will be taken by the
! government cannot now be stated. The reply
| VIII probably be Transmitted TO the Senate,
| but whether before or after the cabinet meet
ing tomorrow is not known. There Will be no
special meeting OF the cabinet TO consider II.
that body has approved policy to be carried
| out by the President aad it remains with him
to be executed
ONE SENATOR'S OPINION.
One Senator declared cmphati cally that it
was ''only play for time on the par, of the
British government" His theory is that that
government will ultimately consent to a renewal
OF the modus vivendi, bat will delay lis
action so long that the agreement will
be made ineffective through the departure for
the seal grounds of large numbers o! Canadian
sealing vessels. This view finds many adher-
ents among Senators and il can be asserted
safely that if this policy should become
clearly defined the Senate will be a unit in
supporting the administration in the most
energetic effort to enforce the laws now on the
statute books relative to the protection of the
rights of the United States in Boring sea.
THE PRESIDENT DISCUSSED THE REPLY
This morning President Harrison discussed
Lord Salisburys reply, which is said TO lie
quite lengthy, discussing the Boring sea situa-
ton with elaboration with Attorney General
Miller and Gen. j. ". Foster. Later Gen.
Foster called at the Navy Department and had
conference with Secretary Tracy.
NO MESSAGE EXPECTED TODAY.
Mr.. Morgan Of Alabama, after consultation
with Mr.. Sherman, chairman of the committee
on foreign relations, announced TO the senate
that the intention of asking Tor an executive
session at o'clock was not now entertained.
This would seem to indicate that no message in
the Rerinp sem M will he in tod.
AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT
the receipt Of an answer was admitted to STAR
reporter but all inquiries as to the tenor of
the letter were met with the statement that
nothing could be said on the subject at the
present time.
1t Is understood that this reticence was in
accordance with a direction from President
Harrison that nothing contained in the letter
should be given to the public until the letter
goes to the Senate.
1t is generally agreed that the President does
not intend to withdraw from the firm stand he
has taken in the matter, the primary object of
this government throughout all the necotia-
tions being the preservation of the seals that
are still left.
NAVAL FLEET FOR BERING SEA
1t is said at the Navy Department that no
orders whatever have been issued looking to
the dispatch Of a naval fleet to Boring sea this
season ana that no action OF that Kind
will be taken until the policy of this
government in the matter has been clearly
defined or until the department is informed
that the revenue vessels to be used in patroling
the sea are inadequate for the service. Not
withstanding this semi-official statement
it is known that the department is
preparing vessels for service in the
North Pacific ocean in the event that they
shall be needed. These are the Adams and the
Ranger, now being fitted out at Mare Island,
Cal, both Of which will go into commission in
a short time. Another vessel that
will undoubtedly 60 to Boring sea this
spring is the Mohican. now at Seattle. Other
vessels that can be utilized IN case il Is deemed
advisable to strengthen the feet are the
Baltimore, at San Francisco; the Charleston,
at san Diego and the Boston and Yorktown,
now en- route to San Francisco, where
they will arrive within the next few weeks
These, or portion of them, with the four reve-
nue. vessels, Bear, Rush, Corwin and Albatross,
would constitute quite a formidable feet.