Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-03-25
THE CORRESPONDENCE
Between President Harrison and Lord
Salisbury
WASMADE PUBLIC BY THE SENATE
Yesterday, After No End Of Grumbling by the
Ssdaie Legislators on Account Of the News
papers Getting the Gist Of the Notes Be-
trehand-An Unprecedented Action.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 2t-At
the conclusion OF the executive session
OF the Senate, which lasted four hours,
the correspondence received yesterday
from the President relative to Bering
Sea was made public. 1t comprises two
communications. In the first one, dated
Washington, March 10, to Sir Julian
Pauncefote, says in part:
On receipt of your note Of the eighth
inst. l Immediately telegraphed to the
Marquis OF Salisbury the substance OF its
contents, in accordance with the request
which you expressed on behalf OF the Pres
ident, and have now the honor to inform
you that have this day received a reply
from his lordship by telegram, to the fol-
lowing effect:
Lord Salisbury again points out that the
information in possession Of Her Maiesty's
government does not lead them to believe
that another years suspension OF sealingis
necessary to prevent an undue diminuition
of the seal herds The prohibition Of all
sealing as a remedy has this defect, that the
British sealers excluded from Bering Sea
would have an undoubted ground of COM
plant If the British claims should be up
held by the arbitrators. Moreover, there
is no security that the arbitration will
Dc COuCluuCu OtlOIO bhO oCdlAuS SCCoOh
of 1898. Serious damage would be caused
to the industry by suspension of the seal
ing period. In view Of all the above con-
siderations, it appears to Her Maiesty's
government that it would be more equitable
TO provide that sealing In Bering sea shall
continue on condition that the owner OF
every sealing vessel shall give security for
satisfying any damages which the arbi-
traitors may adjudge.
In reply, Mr.. Wharton replies under
date of March 90:
I am directed by the President TO say
that YOUR note dated the 10Th inst, and de-
liyered on the Goth inst, Sunday has had
his immediate attention in view OF what he
deems to be the extreme urgency and grav-
ity of the matter under discussion. Inc
urgency grows out OF the fact that much
further protraction Of this discussion will
make any modus that may be agreed upon
Intellectual to protect the interests OF the
United Stated, and will give TO the Cana
dian sealers practical immunity, by reason
of the impossiblity of communicating to
them the agreed restrictions. 1t is known TO
the government that the sealerS have has
tened their departure to escape notice OF
possible modus and that every day almost
adds to the feet that must now be over
hauled at sea. Already forty-seven vessels
have cleared for the sealing grounds (as
against thirty-one at the same date last
year. and are engaged in, following up and
DESTROYING the seal herds. These vessels
will, if not stopped and turned back at the
passes, go into the Bering Sea and pursue
TO the very shore of our islands the slaugh-
ter of the mother seals, seeking the accus
toned rookeries to be delivered OF their
young This is a crime against nature.
This government expects TO show, II the
arbitration proceeds that female seals con-
stitute the larger per cent. of the catch OF
the pelagic sealers.
This government, Notwithstanding the
fact that its right to take seals upon the
Probilyff Islands is undisputed and wholly
uninvolved in the arbitration, has proposed
to take no profit from the Island catch, but
to limit the taking Of seals TO the neceSsi-
ties of the natives of those Islands, and it
cannot consent that with indemnity or
without, the contested rights of British
subjects TO catch seals in the Bering Sea
shall be exercised pending the arbitration.
The President finds it difficult to
believe that Lord SALISBURY is
serious in proposing that this government
shall take separate bonds from the owners
of about 100 Canadian sealing vessels to
indemnify it for the injury they may sew
erally infiict upon our jurisdiction or prop
erty, and must decline to discuss suRges-
ton which only his respect for Lord Sails
bury and his belief that His Lordship has
a due appreciation of the gravity OF this
discussion, enables him 10 treat with
seriousness.
This government cannot consent to have
what il believes to be its rights destroyed
or impaired pending their determination
by an agreed tribunal, however adequate
the security offered.
The suggestions that the conclusions OF
the Board of Arbitration may not be reach
ed and announced in time TO govern the
conduct of the parties during the season OF
1898. is. the President thinks, fully provid-
ed against by the treaty itself.
The President directs me to say. in con-
clusion, that the modus Of last year is the
least that this Government can accept In
reason The restraints after treaty OF
arbitration should be more absolute, not
less He does not desire to protract this
discussion. and having now in the most
friendly spirit submitted the considerations
which support the just demands Of this
Government that the property which is the
subject of an agreed arbitration shall not
be subject to spoilatiOn pending the arbi-
tration, he expresses the hope that Lord
Salisbury will give a prompt and friendly
assent to renew the modus.
The President will hear with regret that
Her Majesty's Government continues 10
assert a right to deal with this subject pre-
cisely as il this provision had been made
for settlement Of the dispute; and in that
event, this Government, as has already
been pointed out, will be compelled to deal
with the subject on the same basis and TO
use every means in its power TO protect
from destruction or serious injury property
and jurisdictional rights which 1t has long
claimed and enjoyed.
The President transmitted the cor
respondence without comment