The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-25

us jurisdiction end property rights. HIS lord
snip VIII hardly fail 70 sss this Herein, in ths
opinion OF the president, consists tae gravity of
the situation, and he is no. willing to be found
IN any degree responsible for the results that
may follow insis.ence by either government
curing this season upon the extreme rights
claimed byit
In his opinion it would discredit, in the eyes
OF the world, the two great governments in-
vowed II the paltry profits of single season
shouId be allowed to thwart or even disturb an
honorable and friendly adjustment OF their di.-
iereness so nearly concluded; but, II his lord
shlp saali adhere To his refusal to UNI 9 with rs
IN p-ompt and effective meeclres 70 stop peiagic
sealing and shall insist upon free sealing for
Blush subjects, the question, as it affe IS this
government, is no longer one OF pecu
mary loss or gain, but Of honor and sali-
respeot. This government, notwithstanding its
right to take seals upon the Prib:lof islands is
ondisputed and wholly urinyolved in the arbi-
tration, has pror osej to take no profit from the
island catch, but TO limit the taking OF seals 20
the hse+ss.tes OF the natives of those Islands,
and ca mot consent that, with indemnity or
without, the contested right OF Bitch sub
jeets to catch seas in Bering sea shall be e1er-
ci.sd pending arbitration.
The president finds il difficult to believe that
LORD Salisbury is serious in proposing that this
government shall take separate bonds of about
100 Canadian sealing vessels to indemnify it for
the injury they may seyerally inf1ict on our
jurisdiction or property, aud must decline to
discuss suggestion which cnly for his respect
for Lord SalIsb bury, and his belief that his lord
ship has due appreciation Of the gravity of
this discussion enable him to treat with
seriousness. We should doubtless have TO pur-
sue and capture upon the many OF the
owners OF these vessels to secure the bonds
suggested. As the condition is to be that they
shall pay "any damages which the afbitrators
may adjudge," while the treaty gives the arbi-
traitors no power to adiudge any damage, tho
Transaction would be without risk to them and
OF no value TO US. This government cannot
consent to have what it believes its fights
destroyed or impaired pending determination
by an agreed tribunal, however adequate the
security offered. The reference in my last
note TO the Inconsistency of her majesty's gov
ernment in denying responsibility for the acts of
Canadian sealers was not intended to suggest q
Willingness on our part, under any circum-
stances, to see our property converted into a
claim for damages, and particularly as such
claim cannot now be heard or determined by
arbitration without reformation of the treaty,
for his iordship must remember that while he
now Offers what he mistakenly calls security for
satisfying any damages which the arbitrators
msy adjudge, he has already carried his point in
the treaty that the arbitrators shall have no
jurisdiction to award any damages.
As to his lordship's suggestion that Canadian
sealers may have some claim for compensation
if Great Britain Restraints pelagic sealing, the
president directs me 10 say that he is not able
to see how citizens or subjects OF either treaty
power can by any rule of law or equity support
any claim against their respective governments
growing out OF such necessary trade restraints.
The suggestion that the conclusions OF the
board of arbitration nay not lie reached and an
nounccd in time to govern the conduct of the
parties during the season OF 1SeS is, the presl-
dent thinks, fully provided against by the
treaty itself. II the present treaty is promptly
ratified and exchanged our mutual interests
would be an absolute guarantees against de-
lay. The president has found no ohsta-
Gle in the way cf such contamination
except the belief now unfortunately prevalent
here that the refusal OF Great Britain TO agree to
the preservation of status quo OF property dur
ing arbitration, and her insistance that pelagic
sealing shall go on, to injury, il not destruction,
of our rights, largely defeats the objects of the
treaty.
The president directs me to say, in conclusion,
that the moaus of last year is the least the
government can accept. He does not desire to
protract this discussion, and having
now in most friendly spirit sub
mitted tho considerations which sup
port the just demand of this government
that property which is the subject OF agreed ar
bitration shall not be subject to spoliation
pending arbitration, he expresses the hope that
LORD Salisbury would give prompt and friendly
assent to the renewal OF the modus. The pres
ident will hear with regret that her maiesty's
government continues to assert the right
to deal with this subject precisely
as If no provision had been made for settlement
OF the dispute, and in that event this govern
ment, rs has already been pointed out, will be
compelled to dosl with the subject upon the
in its fn
protes. from destruction or serious injury prop
e-ty and jurisdictioual rights which it hss
long claimed and enjoyed.
The president transmitted the corre-
spondence without comment.
LONDON, March 24-The press CORE
spondents on Salisbury with regard to the
modus vivendi generally regard the situa-
ton as becoming critical, though nothing
worse than deadlock is looked for. The
general impression is that President
Harrison's attitude is nothing more than
an election appeal to those voters who
love to see Great Britain insulted.
The Graphic says: The dispatch of
portion of the Pacific squadron northw ward
shows that Lord Salisbury is not disposed
to recede from his position. Happily there
is plenty of time for further negotiations.
President Harrison apparently takes Lord
Sa,isbury's complacence for irresolution,
hence the staggering rejoinder.
The Daily News, referring to the cor
respondence, says there is much force in
Wharton's objection that damages are un-
recoverable from individuals. Cannot
Lord Salisbury pledge our credit for any
fine imposed? If America objects, she
might be invited TO put it the other way,
by pledging herself to pay for the luxury
of Prohibition.
The Times, in leader on Bering sea, says
it is to the credit of the American people
that they have not responded TO the noisy
protests of their public men. 1t is remark
able after so many years Of experience that
the party leaders still deem it
profitable to beat big drum on every pos
sible occasion and ask other nations, espe-
cialiy Great Britain, to tread on the tail of
their coat. We fail to understand the
meaning of the American reply that dam
ages could not be recovered, because
if the proposal is accepted England will
be bound to recover them and refund
them to America. On the other hand, if
the decision is adverse TO the American
claim, as most people acquainted with
international law expect, there will be no
means, as matters now stand, Of securing
compensation for the injury done to British
sea!ers by the suspension of fishing. n 1891,
while renewal of the intsrcict will cause
much heavier losses. Commenting
on the danger of bringing British and
American fleets in proximity, the Times
SAYS it is only too likely to bring them
into conflict. and concludes: "Tail-twist-
ing NAV be a popular sport, but serious
Quarrel with England is not likely to