Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-03-24
THEPERTMR HARRISON
And the EquivOcatinS Lord Salisbury
and Their Notes.
THE SENATRGE DOWN TO WORK
Upon Ii. Bering Sea COntrOversy-Lord Salis6ary's
Notes Show Tendency 70 kill nns-Ihs
President Says What He Means and
Very POrcibly, Too.

WASHINGTON, March s3.-Among the
Presidents callers this morning was
Gen. John w. Foster, who is assisting
him in the Bering Sea negotiations, and
Senator sherman, Chairman OF the Sen
ate Committee on Foreign Relations.
One OF the questions under considera-
tion was the advisabllity Of the prompt
nsmission 20 the Senate OF the corre-
spondence that has passed between this
country and Great Britain since the sth
inst.
IL is said that the attitude OF Great
Britain on this point will have n most
important bearing on the Senate's ac-
tion on the pending treaty OF arbitra-
tion. 1t is broadly intimated that Inn
piled disposition on the part OF Great
Britain 10 resent any interference by
this government with vessels flying the
English flag In the pelagic sealing In
Bering Sea would undoubtedly result IN
the rejection OF the treaty In It's present
form. The correspondence consists. 10
is understood. OF two notes, the hrst
being Lord Salisbury's cabled note on
the 10th, and the reply OF the President.
dated Yesterday. Neither OF the notes
is OF great length.
Later in the day the Bering Sea cor
respondence was transmitted To the Sem
ate under secrecy. II will not there
fore be made public until the Senate
orders.
Lord Sallsbury's note may be describ-
ed as synopsis Of the detailed reply 10
the State Department note, which Is TO
follow by mail. His refusal TO consent
to a renewal OF the modus vivendi Is ac-
companled with several counter propo-
sitIons, the reading OF which was re-
ceived with Ill suppressed irritation by
| the Senate.
The general character OF the note Is
| described as evasive and equivocal.
| The Presidents rejoinder was also
transmitted to the Senate. IL Is q
pungent communication In which the
| President broadly, but In diplomatic
| language, hints that Lord Salisbury has
not met his overtures in a straight
| forward, business-like manner. Tho
| President insists upon renewal OF the
modus viyendi without recourse TO In
| significant or irrevelant conditions and
closes his note with the stirring
assertion that II the government de-
clines to assist in the protection OF tho
seals during the arbitration OF the
| claims OF the United States he will pro-
| ceed TO enforce the laws and exclude
poachers from Bering Sea II the MILF
tary force Of the United States Is re-
aured TO accomplish IL. The note
| created a sensation In the Senate.
The gravity OF the situation has led
| 10 renewal OF the strongest efforts OF
Senators to prevent the public from be-
| ing made acquainted with the facts un-
I'll the correspondence has progressed
further. There was no expression OF
opinion by the President In his letter OF
transmittal; but this was not needed In
view OF the clearly defined position AS
sumed by him In his rejoinder TO Lord
Salisbury. which appeared TO meet with
the unanimous approval OF the Senators,
although the debate Itself was too short
TO disclose officially the standing OF the
Senators.
As has been intimated Lord Salisbury
does not. in his note, refuse TO enter
into modus vivendi OF some kind; he
does not fatty refuse TO be party 10
some arrangement; but, automatically
speaking, he "fails tc consent 70 tho
proposition made by this government
Inasmuch as the Senate has refused
to make the correspondence public, II 10
exceedingly difficult to get q clear state
ment OF the exact idea intended 70 be
conveyed in the diplomatic language OF
such correspondence as that laid before
the Senate to-day, but undoubtedly the
impression generally conveyed By the
reading was that Lord Salisbury has
refused TO renew the arrangement OF
last year.
1t can be stated that there IL nothing
I'm the nature OF an ultimatum on tho
part OF either government In the corre-
spondence laid before the Senate. The
correspondence is still considered In
complete. and the way Is still open for
letter writing, In the line OF endeayor
on the part Of each side to, show how
far the other party is in the wrong.
Underlying the formal phraseology OF
diplomacy, however. Is an evident In
tentlon on the part OF this government
TO bring the matter TO the point OK deh.
mite determination before the sealing
season Is far advanced, and the Presl-
dents reply, II is thought, will greatly
tend TO the attainment OF the desired
result.