Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-03-31
WILL SAVE THE SEALS.
PRESIDENT HARRIsoN's RE-
JOINDER POINTED.
Lord Salisbury Il Given to Understand
That the Rights of the United States
VIII BE Enforced- Summary of the Mes
RaR0.
Trihing Must Cease.

oea matJer, PRESIDENT HARRISON tntl-
mates that he is in favor of protecting
the seal fisheries against poachers at all
hazards, regardless of the wishes of
Great Britain. He has concluded that
the British government is not desirous
of cooperating with the United States
as against the Canadian poachers, and
that further efforts to secure an agree
ment of the sort which would be rea-
sonably fair to this country are useless.
A firm purpose to stand by the President
was shown in the brief debate in the ex-
ecutive session of the Senate over the
correspondence and the message accom-
panying it from the White House.
The character OF Lord Salisbury's
communication was so remarkable as to
cause universal expressions of surprise
and indignation. Lord Salisbury OBJ
jects to the renewal OF the modus vi
vendi oil the ground of the length of
time likely to be taken in presenting the
case to the arbitrators and in their de-
liberations after the case is before them
The British premier says, in substance,
that II the modus vivendi is renewed
this year an appeal will doubtless be
made by the United States for it's re-
ncwal again next year and the year
after, and possibly the year after that.
Lord Salisbury does not consider this
the proper way OF dealing with the ques-
ton. He cites the case OF some negoti-
ations now going on between Portugal
and Great Britain as an illustration of
the delays incidental to arbitration of
international disputes, and intimates
that the negotiations over Rering sea
may last for three or four yea, s.
He also reiterates the old Elglish ar
gument that pelagic sealing is not de-
structive to seal life, and substantially
intimates to President Harrison that it
is matter of Indifference to the British
Government what action is taken by this
country. The plan he suggests by which
the President may protect the interests
OF the United States during the long
period OF the negotiations is regarded
alike in the Cabinet and in the Senate as
an indication OF his disposition to treat
the subject with little regard for Ameri-
can rights and little inclination to assist
in satisfactory soluti n. He suggests
that the Government of the United States
may take bond of the Canadian seal
ers to indemnify the United States for
the seals taken in case the arbitration
| goes against the Canadian claims, and
that the United States shall give bond
at the same time to indemnify the seal
ers for any loss they may suffer by
American interference in case the arbi-
tration goes against this country. Lord
| Salisbury does condescend to work out
the details by which this remarkable
f6e9tyl lhleetEYeG9 the United sSSaRdfIDe'ear-
ried out, but courteously leaves that for
the consideration of the President. The
mere reading of this remarkable COM
communication in the last Cabinet
meeting was enough to determine the
Cabinet to stand by the President in the
most decided measures he might feel
called upon 10 take.
The news qu.ckly went round that
message from the President on the
Bering Sea difficulty had arrived, and it
was not long before the Senate went
into executive session to receive it. The
reading of Lord Salisburys letter was
| listened to with great surprise, which
greatly whetted the appetites of Sena-
tors for the Presidents response. The
response was generally commended as
firm and to the point. The President
renewed his former declaration that
modus vivendi seemed to him the
natural and only proper manner OF deal
ing with the question, pending the action
of impartial arbitrators. He did not dis
cuss at great length the effect OF
pelagic sealing, for he considered its
destructive character sufficiently estab-
lished by the reports OF experts and the
1acts already laid before the British
Government.
The President declares Lord Sails
bury's suggestion about exchanging
bonds with the poachers to be impracti-
ticable and undignified, and altogether
beyond serious consideration by the
Government OF the United States. The
| xIAI2 AL
for Lord Salisbury to accept the renewal
of the modus vivendi, but declares that
IL the modus vivapdi be not renewed this
year he will not hold himself RESPONSE
bic for any consequences that may fol-
low.
This is an almost literal quotation
from the message prepared by the Presi-
dent, and is intended to intimate in the
language of diplomacy that our Govern
ment will endure no further trifling in
the matter and that, IL the British Gov
ernment refuses q reasonable arrange
ment for the prote ctlon of the seals, the
United States will enforce her extreme
rights with her full naval power.
The usual motion followed the read
ing of the papers in the Senate to refer
them to the Committee on Foreign AZ
fairs. There was some running debate
on this motion which disclosed general
feeling of indignation against Lord
Salisbury and a Willingness to sustain
the President. One of the Democratic
Senators wanted the correspondence
made public, but Senator Sherman OBJ
jected, and succeeded in defeating the
motion to make the letters public, but
their Importance and the gravity OF
the situation they disclosed were
soon known to those interested and
were a lively subject OF discussion
about the hotels at night. Senator
Sherman is in favor of ratifylng the
treaty now pending and then following
with whatever action may be necessary
TO enforce the laws against the poach-
ers, and protect the seals within the rec
ognized Jurisdiction of the United States,
even IL the entire navy be required for
the purpose.
Senator Teller and some of the other
Western members, notably those from the
Pacific coast, are not disposed to notice
the pending treaty any further, but
favor immediate steps TO arrest poaching,
regardless of any feelings Great Britain
may have on the subject after this ac-
ton.