Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-31
PEACE ASSURED
BY the Ratification of the Beh-
ring Sea Treaty.
How the Sealing Controversy Is
to Be Settled.

Questions Which the Arbitrators, who
win BE Distinguished Jurists From
Their Respective Countries, VIII De-
eide at the Meeting in Paris-Sealing
Not to be Exterminated.
WASHINGTON, March 31.-The Beh-
ring sea arbitration treaty or conven-
ton, ratified by the senate Tues
day, was signed in Washington
on Feb. 80 by James e. Blaine, on
the part of the United States, and Julian
Pauncefote, on the part of Great Brit
ain. 1t was sent to the senate in conf
dence on the Sth inst. Its ratification
insures that there will be no war be-
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain over the question of taking seals in
Behring sea.
Provisions of the Treaty.
The treaty provides that the Behring
sea controversy shall be submitted to a
tribunal of arbitration, to be composed
of seven arbitrators, the president of the
United States and her britannia majesty
to name two each, and the president of
France, the King of Italy, and the King
of Norway and Sweden to name one
each. The arbitrators are to be distin-
guished jurists in their respective coun-
tries, and the treaty provides that they
shall meet in Paris within twenty days
after the delivery of the counter-case, or
what might be called evidence in re-
buttal.
The printed case of the two parties,
accompanied by documents, official cor
respondence and other evidence is to be
delivered in duplicate to each arbitrator
and to the agents Of each high contra,
ing party, as soon as possible. after tAe
appointment of the tribunal, but within
period not exceeding three montla
from the exchange of the ratification e
the treaty. Within the next thu
months, unless more time is required,
the counter cases are to be delivered.
The arbitrators are commissioned to
proceed impartially and carefully to
examine and decide the questions tn
have been or shall be laid before then
All questions considered by the t.
bunal, including the final decision, are
to be determined by majority of L
arbitrators.
Questions to Arbitrate.
Five questions are to be submitted to
the arbitrators. These are:
First-What exclusive jurisdiction in
the sea known as the Behring sea, and
what exclusive rights in the seal fisheries
therein did Russia assert and exercise
prior and up to the time of the cession
of Alaska 10 the United States?
Second-lIow far were these claims of
jurisdiction as to the seal fisheries recog-
nized and conceded by Great Britain?
Third-Was the body of water now
known as the Behring sea included in
the phrase Pacific ocean," as used in
the treaty of 1926 between Great Britain
and Russia; and what rights, if any, in
the Behring s'l We're held and exclu-
sively exercised by Russia after said
treaty?
Fourth Did not all the rights of Rus
sia as to jurisdiction, and as to the seal
fisheries in Behring sea, east of the wa
ter boundary, in the treaty between the
| United States and Russia of the Both of
March, 1867, pass unimpaired to the
United States under that treaty?
Fifth-Has the United States any
right, and if so, what right of protection
or property in the fur-seals frequenting
the islands of the United States in Beh-
ring sea when such seals are found out
side the ordinary three-mile limit?
If the arbltrators decide that the con-
currence of Great Britain is necessary
to the establishment of regulations for
the protection and preservation of the
fur-seal in Behring sea, the arbitrators
shall then determine what concurrent
regulations outside the jurisdictional
limits of the respective governm tents are
necessary, and over what waters such
regulations should extend.
The high contracting tarties also
agree to cooperate in securing the adj
hesion of other powers to such regula.
tions. The question of the liability OF
either government for damages is to be
subject to farther negotiation, although
the arbitrators may decide on questions
of fact involved.
The treaty also provides for the ap
pointment of two commissioners by
each of the high contracting parties tc
investigate and report facts having re-
lation to seal life and measures neces
sary for its preservation, The decision
is to be made within four months after
the close of argument on both sides, anc
it is to be final.
The exchange of the ratification OF
the treaty is to be made either at Wash
ington or at London within six months
from its date (Feb. 29) or earlier, If pos
sible.