The morning news., 1892-03-29
NO WAR OVER THE SEALS
sALIsBURY's LAST NOTE LOOKED
UPON as SATISFACTORY.

! With the commandments Sen
ate Discusses the Issue In Executive
! session-Much Time Devoted to the
Question of Damages.
WAsHINGToS. March 2s.-President Har-
rison devoted the entire morning to con-
sideratlon Of the Bering sea matter with a
/ view to framing an answer to Lord Sails
/ bury's note Of March %. He had the benefit
of the advice Of Secretary Blaine, Senator
| Sherman and Gen. Foster, who were in con-
/ ference with him on the subject for some
time.
1t is said on good authority that the Presi,
dent and his cabinet are well pleased with
the conciliatory tone Of Lord Salisbury's
note of March 20, especially as is is held to
concede point that has been the principal
cause OF contention, viz. Renewal of the
modus vfyeudi of last year for the protec-
tion Of the seal fisheries. This alleged con-
| cession is believed 20 be implied in his
proposition TO agree TO modus in case the
treaty of arbitration is ratified under the
condition that each government shall
guarantee the other for damages incurred
through a suspension Of sealing operations.
PLEASING ADHESION.
One official. who has been consulted by the
| President In re ard to the negotiations, said
bury's admission that Great Britain would
hold itself liable for damages resulting to
the United States because Of the modus vi
vendi in the event that the arbitrAtors is
adverse to its contention. He said that
taking it altogether Lord Salisbury's note
is satisfactory as indicating a good prospect
for an amicable settlement of the questions
at issue. Further correspondence will be
necessary to settle the method Of determin-
ing the character Of the damage claims.
LAID BEFORE THE SENATE.
Lord Salisbury's last communication to
the President stating the grounds upon
which he would consent TO renew the modus
vivendi as to Bering sea was laid before the
Senate soon after 1t went into. executive
session this afternoon. The publication of
the full text of the document in the morn
ing papers had given the senator's an oppor-
tunity to acquaint themselves with il before
its formal presentation. In transmitting
the paper to the Senate the President added
TO the formal letter q statement that Lord
Salisbury's reply was very satisfactory to
this governments and that he was preparing
a suitable response. The character of
this response was Indicated briefly in the
Presidents letter as being a substantial ec-
ceptance of Lord Salisbury's tender with
few notifications that could doubtless be
arranged without difficulty. There can be
no question that the reception Of the COM
munication has largely removed any doubt
of favorable action of the Senate upon the
treaty, and, in fact, when an adjournment
was had. it was the general believe that the
treaty would be ratified tomorrow, and
that, too, without any conditions or resolu-
tions that might operate to defeat the COM
pletion Of the negotiations.
SOME STILL KICKING.
There is still an element In the Senate
that persists in urging the adoption OF a
resolution requiring the President to with
hold exchange Of the ratifcations until the
modus vivendi is renewed, and they include
in their ranks two members Of the commit
tee on foreign relations. Senators FRYE
and Gray, who made strong arguments In
support Of their position. But the events
Of the last few days have caused a change
OK mind on the part OF many senators
who at first had taken that view of
the cas5 and further inroads we're made
upon the ranks of the opposition to-day as
a result OF Mr. Morgan's exposition OF the
| present diplomatic status of The negotia-
| tions. One view pus forth by western
senator has won many adherents to the
| treaty. lt was In substance that the
United States had everything TO gain and
nothing TO lose by ratification OF the treaty.
Assuming the worst possible outcome
OF the arbitration. a decision against the
United States on each Of the points
/ submitted, it was urged that there still re-
mained enough Of value in the seventh
article of the treaty to warrant its ratifica-
ton. That article pledges Great Britain
20 cooperate with the United States in the
protection Of the seal fisheries under regu-
lations to be formulated by the arbitrators,
30 that even IL damages to q considerable
amount were assessed against the United
States and in favor OF the British sealerS,
! the United States would receive in return
assurapce that the value of the seal fish
cries would be enhanced 60 a much larger
amount through efficient international pro-
| lection.
THE QUESTION OF DAMAGES,
| Much Of the debate to-day was devoted to
| the question OF damages that might be
| awarded by the arbitrators for or against
this country. Senator George took a
prominent part In the discussion of this
point and, fortified by a number of au-
| thorities. such as Elliot's work on seal life
proceeded to address the Senate at
great length. the newsy feature of
| his speech being an eulogistio
reference TO President Harrison's attitude
in the negotiations. No specific prediction
as to the amount Of the damages was at
tempted. but senators familiar with the
subject cited figures TO show that poachers
| secured IS, 900 seal skins last year, which
meant destruction to over 800 600 seal mas
much as only small proportion of the total
| number OF seals killed at sea are recovered.
| But IL was believed that not more than TO-
600 skins were taken IN Bering sea proper
| and taking the government valuation of Stt
per skin, the damage we could rightfully
claim for last years operations Of the poAch-
ers would not be considerable.
LOSS OF THE CANADIANS.
On the other hand, the loss sustained by
Canadian vessel owners, assuming that they
were illegally excluded from the seal
| waters, must have been much larger than
our own. These considerations were all dis
cussed at length to-day, and as a result, it
appears that a majority OF the Senate have
concluded that public policy requires rati.
fication Of the arbitration treaty. A prom.
inent western senator who opposes ratifi
cation Of the treaty without a reso-
luton Withholding final exchange
of the agreement between the governments
| until England agrees to renew the modus,
and who had vigorously advocated this
position In the executive session, said to-
| night that he was confident he was voicins
the sentiment of the majority in saying thai
Lord Salisbury's response to the Presidents
last letter published this morning, shows a
decided diplomatic victory for this govern.
ment, and was virtually a back-down on
Great Britain's part from the elevated
position in the contention to which she ha.
SO tenaciously olung during the cor
respondence. He expressed no doubt
of the final ratification without the resolu.
| ffOn and said that vvhiia rnanu earakore