, 1892-04-27

liability to interruption to which they may be
axnosad in consequence of either of the said
agreements.
To this follows the Message which the Pre-
sident transmitted to Congress, closing with
the following words
The President directs me to say, in conclu-
sion. that the modus UiUendt of last year is the
least that this Government can accept. In
reason. the restraints after a Treaty Of Arbi.
tration should be more absolute, not less. He
does not desire to protract the discussion,
aud having now, in the most friendly spirit
submitted the considerations which support
the Just demand Of this Government, that
the property which is now the subject Of all
agreed arbitration shall not be subject to
spoliation pending the arbitration, he expires.
SEES the hope that Lord Salisbury will give o
prompt and friendly assent to the renewal of
the modus riveadi. The President will hear
with regret that her Mjesty's Government con-
tinues to assert a right to deal with this subject
precisely as if no provision had been made for
The settlement Of the dispute;and in that event,
this Government, as has already been point
ed out, viii be compelled to deal with the
subject on the same basis, and to use jevery
means in its power to protect from destruction
ar serious injury property and jurisdictional
rights which it has long claimed and en-
joyed.
In the first of the two notes despatched on
Saturday the Foreign Minister observes that
the prohibition OF sealing, it it stands alone,
would be unjust to British sealers if the de-
cision Of the arbitrators should be adverse to
the United States, and in the concluding mes
SAGE he makes the following proposal, which
Is SO reasonable that we may hope 1t will be
accepted bv the United States executive -:
Tho Marquis Of salisbury to sir J. Pauncefote.
,rolcgranficl Foreign Office, March 70. ls92.
With further reference to your telegram of
the 23rd inst. l am not prepared to admit, as
Gather that the President thinks, that We have
objected 10 the arbitrators having jurisdio-
lion as to damages inflicted in the past by the
marty AGAINST whom the award is given. Ionly
objected to make her Majesty's Government
liable for acts which they have not committed.
am ready to consent to a reference on TINS
point in the following terms:
That IN case the arbitrators shall decide IN
favour IF the British Government that
Government may ask them, further to decide
whether the United StatesGovsrnme have
since 1851. taken any acton in Behring. S Sea
directly inficting a wrongful loss ON British
subjects, and if SO to assess the damage IN
Cured thereby.
That in case the arbitrators shall decide i'll
favour Of the Government Of the United
States that Government may ASK 10 ucCluc,
further. Whether the British Government
hive. sine 1855. taken any action il Behring's
Ssa directly i~uhicting > wrongful less on the
United Stateso. its lessacs, an # so, to assess
the luna-e incurred thereby.
Washington, March Is,
The Senate has practically come to an
agtrsmrut 10 ratify the Behring lea Arbltra-
ton Treaty. though no formal action has yet
bsen taken. The matter is postponed until
Monday III order that senator's who have been
n bsent from the discussion may be notified to
lie present.
At Yesterdays sitting Senator FELTON, Ca
Iiforllial made a violent onslaught on the
proposed treaty. He said that TO ratify it
wonld.be virtually to surrender the rights a.
CURED by the United States from Russia.
Seuator Sherman Ohio argued strongly in
favour Of the ratification Of the treaty without
restriction, contending that England would
never agree to ratification under a threat on
the part Of the United States Of refusal to allow
the ratification to become effective until the
nodus riUemdi were renewed. He thought
that in the best interests of the nation the
Senate should do nothing unfriendly, 80 that
England might be compelled to assume re-
sponsibility for any trouble which might
ensue.
Several Senators held that the Senate
should suDuOrt the President by passlno a