Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-25
Correspondence on the Bering
Sea Question.
Harrison Talks to Salisbury Like a
Dutch Uncle.
Tho Britishers Sheer and Say 1t Is But
Vote Catching Messags-Naval
Activity in tho North
Pacific.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Bering sea dispute is made public. The
first communication is from Sir Julian
Pauncefote to Mr.. Wharton, un6 er date
of March 10th, stating that he had re.
ceived reply from Lord Salisbury to
Wharton's note of the Sth inst., to the
following effect:
"Lord Salisbury again points out that
the information in the possession Of her
majesty's government does not lead them
to believe another years suspension Of
sealing is necessary to prevent an undue
diminution of the seal herds.
His lordship, however, proceeds to
observe that beyond this question it is
considered by your government that
they have rights to be protected from
the loss they may incur from free seal
ing this year in the event of their claim
to the Bering sea being upheld by the
arbitratOrs. He states that her majes-
ty's government does not dispute that
after the ratification of the convention
there may be some foundation for this
contention, but adds that the prohibit
tion of all sealing as a remedy has this
effect: That British sealers excluded
ground of complaint if the British claims
were upheld by the arbitrators. More
over, there 10 no security that the arbi-
tration will be concluded before the seal
ing season of 1898. Serious damage
would be caused the industry by the sus-
pensi on of sealing for long period.
''In view of all the above considera-
tions, it appears to her majesty's gov
eminent that it would be more equita-
BILE to provide that sealing in Bering sea
shall continue on condition that the
owners of every sealing vessel shall give
security for satisfying any damages the
arbitrators may adjudge.
''I shall be glad to learn that the
above suggestions meet with the con-
currence OF your government"
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
Under date OF March 22d Mr.. Wharton
replied as follows:
81 am directed by the president to say
that your note of the 10th instant has
had his immediate attention, in view of
what he deems the extreme urgency
and gravity of the matter. The urgency
grows out of the fact that further pro-
traction will make any modus ineffect-
nal to protect the interests of the United
States, and will give Canadian sealers
practical immunity, by reason OF
the impossibility of communicating
to them the agreed restrictions. 1t is
known to this government hat the seal
ers have hastened their departure to es-
cape notice of possible modus, and
every day, almost, adds to the fleet that
must now be overhauled at eea. AL
ready forty-seven Canadian vessels have
cleared for the sealing grounds, as
against thirty-one at the same date last
year, and are engaged in destroying the
seal herds. These vessels will, if not
stopped and turned back at the passes,
20 into BeriDg sea and pursue to the
very chores OF our islands the slaughter
of the mother seals, seeking the accus-
toned roOkeries to be delivered OF their
young. This is crime against nature.
''Tnis government expects to show. if
arbitration proceeds, that female seals
constitute the larger portion of the
catch of pelagic sealers. That in view
of this serious and confident contention
of this government, his lordship should
assume that another years suspension
of such sealing ie not necessary, to pre-
sent undue diminution of the seal
herds and should insist that, pending
arbitration, it shall 60 on precisely as if
no arbitration was agreed upon, is as
surprising as it is disappointing.
''If her majesty's government so little
respects the claims and contentious of
this government as to be unwilling for
single season to regard them, the
president cannot understand why Lord
Salisbury should have proposed and
agreed to give to those claims the dig
nifty and standing which reference to
high court of arbitration implies.
From the moment arbitration was
agreed upon, neither party was at lib.
erty to disregard the contentious Of the
other. It must be assumed that the
sincere purpose of the two governments
was to promote peace and good will,
but if, pending arbitration, either gov
ernment deals with the subject solely
upon the basis of its own contention,
and in utter disregard OF the claims of
the other, this friendly end is not only
not attained, but new sense of injury
and injustice is added, even if it should
be found possible to proceed with an
arbitration under such conditions. For
it must not be forgotten that if her
maiesty'e government proceeds during
this sealing season upon the basis of its
contention as to the rights of Canadian
sealers, no choice is LETT this government
but to proceed upon the basis of its con-
tention that pelagic sealing in Bering
sea is an infraction of its jurisdiction |
and property rights
"His lordsbip will hardly fail to zee
that herein, in the opinion of the pres.
dent, consists the gravity of the situa.
tion, and he is not willing to be found
in any degree responsible for the results
that may follow on the insistence by
either government during this season
upon the extreme rights claimed by it.
In his opinion it would be discredit in
the eyes of the world for the two
great governments involved, if the paltry
profits of a single season should be
allowed to thwart or even disturb an
honorable and friendly adjustment of
their differences-so nearly concluded.
But, if his lordship shall adhere to his
refusal to unite with us in prompt and
effective measures to stop pelagic seal
ing and shall insist upon free sealing
for British subjects, the question, as it
"a it affects this government, is no
longer one of pecuniary loss or gain,
but of honor and self respect.
"This government, Notwithstanding
that its right to take seals upon the
Pribyloff islands, is undisputed and
wholly uninvolved in the arbitration,
has proposed to take no profit from the