The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-03-30
BERING SEA TREATY
Unanimously Ratified by the
Senate.
IN SECRET SESSION TWO HOURS.
The Proceedings to be Conducted in the
English Language
IN SECRET SESSION TWO HOURS.

tinguished Jurists, aud They Are TO
Meet in Paris within Twenty Days After
the Counter Case, what Might be
Called Evidence in RebuttaI-Fivs oues-
tions to be Submitted.
WASHINGTON, March 30. The treaty
or convention providing for arbitr ation
in the settlement of the differences be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States over the jurisdiction of the Beh-
ring Sea was ratified by the Senate yes
terday afternoon by unanimous vote
The secret session which resulted in
the ratification lasted two hours.
Shortly after the doors were closed,
call of the Senate was ordered and an
unusually large number of Senators an
swered to their names, the number be-
ing increased to 70 before the vote on
the treaty was taken.
There was some general discussion con-
cerning the perfection Of the treaty, and
Mr.. Sherman announced that the propo-
sitions made by some Senators at pre-
vious sessions that the arbitration pro-
ceedings should be conducted in English
had met with favorable response from
Lord Salisbury. After Mr. Sherman
made this statement the treaty was
amended so that English should be the
language used in the conduct of the pro-
ceedings.
The treaty provides that the Behring
Sea controversy shall be submitted to a
tribunal of arbitration, to be composed
of seven arbitrators, the President of
the United States and Her Britannia
Majesty to name two each, and the Presi-
dent of France, the King of Italy and
the King of Sweden and Norway to name
| one each The arbitrators are to be dis
| tinguished jurists in their respective
countries, and the treaty provides that
they shall meet in Paris within twenty
days after the delivery of the counter
case, or what might be called evidence
| in rebuttal. The printed case of the
two parties, accompanied by documents,
official correspondence and other evil
| dence is to be delivered in duplicate TO
each arbitrator, and to the agents of
each high contracting party, as soon as
| possible after the appointment of the
| tribunal, but within a period not ex-
ceeding three months from the exchange
of the ratification of the treaty. Within
the next three months, unless more time
is required, the counter cases are to be
delivered
The arbitrators are commissioned to
'proceed impartially and carefully to
examine and decide the questions that
have been or shall be laid before them
All questions considered by the tri-
tunal, including the final decision, are
to be determined by majority Of the
arbitrators. Five questions are to be
submitted to the arbitrators. These are:
First-What exclusive jurisdiction in
the sea now known as Behring Sea, and
was exclusive rights in the seal fisheries
therein did Russia assert and exercise
prior and up to the time of the cession
of Alaska to the United Ststes2
2 How far are those claims of juris-
diction as to the seal fisheries recognized
and considered by Great Britain2
B. Was the body of water now known
as Behring Sea included in the phrase
"Pacific Ocean" as used by the treatysof
1926, between Great Britain and Russia,
and what rights, if any, in the Behring
Sea, were held and exclusively exercised
by Russia after said treaty.
4. Did not all the rights Of Russia as
to jurisdiction and as to the seal fisher
les in Behring Sea east of the water
boundary, in the treaty between the
United States and Russia of March 80,
1867, pass unimpaired to the United
States under that treaty.
8. Has the United States any right,
and If so what right of protection of
property of the fur seals frequenting the
islands of the United States and Behring
Sea, when such seals are found outside
the ordinary three-mile limitS
If the arbitrators decide that the con-
currence of Great Britain is necessary to
the establishment of regulations for the
proper protection and preservation of the
fur-seal in Behring Sea, the arbitrators
shall then determine what concurrent
regulations outside the jurisdictional
limits of the respective Governments ara
necessary, and over what waters such
regulations should extend. The high
contracting parties also agree to cooper
ate in securing the adhesion of other
Powers to such regulations The ques-
tiOn of the liability of either Government
for damages is TO be subject to further
negotiation, although the arbitrators
may decide on questions of fact involved.
The treaty also provides for the ap-
pOinUment of two commissioners by each
of the high contracting parties TO inves-
tigate and report facts having relation
to seal life and measures necessary for
its preservation. The decision is to be
made within four months after the close
of argument on both sides, and it is to
be final
The exchange of the ratification of the
treaty is to be made either at Washing
ton or at London, within six months or
its date February 2Y or earlier, if pos
sible.
Thought to Have Been Drowned,