The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-03-10
DISCUSSED BY THE SENATE.
No Action Will BE Taken OIL the Treaty I'm.
til England Defines Her Poaition

No Action Will BE Taken the Treaty I'm.
til England Defines Her Position.
WAsHINGToN, March 9.-The Senate
spent noarly three hours this afternoon in
considering the Behring sea seal fisheries
question. The subject came before it
through the presentation, by the Vice.
president, of the Presidents message trans
hitting the correspondence on the subject
since May 4, 1891. between this government
and the government of Great Britain. The
Presidents letter of transmittal was read
and in answer to q general demand q great
deal of the correspondence was also read,
by the executive clerk for the information
of Senators. This proceeding consumed
much of the time during which the Senate
was in executive session.
On the conclusion of the reading another
debate. very similar in character to that
lngs, was begun. Moreover, the same spec X
ers occupied the floor and gave reasons to
strengthen the arguments advanced by
them yesterday In favor and against the
ratification of the treaty. The committee
on foreign relations. through it's chairman,
stated, In answer to @ question. that it had
not yet been ablo to fully consider the
treaty and report 1t to the Senate. 1t ap-
peared from tho discussion that q large
majority of the Senators were of the opin-
ion that tho treaty should he amended by
the addition of q clause providing for the
renewal of the mOdus vivendI. or that the
resolution of ratification, as already In
dictated. shonld be accompanied by direc-
tion to the President TO withhold exchange
of notifications until Great Britain consent
ed to renewal
A great deal of the discussion consisted
of questions and answers relative to the
actual condition of the seal fisheries at
present and the exact effect of the opera.
very few of the Senators were informed on
these essential points The chairman of
the committee on foreign affairs, Senator
sherman, called attention to the signifi-
can't fact that Lord Salisbury had. In tho
correspondence. repudiated any RESPONSE.
bility on the part of his government for
the action of the poachers. The Senator
thought the United States had gained in
urged strongly that when the treaty was
reported 1t should he ratified by
the Senate. taking the ground that by
doing so the United States would give
evidence to the world of it's willingness to
arbitrate the questions involved. The
President might be relied upon thereafter
to continue his efforts to secure the consent
of Great Britain to q renew al of the mod u 3
vivendl. If he failed to receive this COLI
sent il would make plain to the world that
oAo"o Ia 10 ~" PASpnAON " oOe WIN
fairness in the arbitration. Moreover,
there was in his opinion, no reason WHY,
in that event, the United States should
seek for CO operation in the protection of
our own property. If there WAS failure
to secure q renewal of the agreement, the
President GOULD be relied upon to execute
the laws and seize all offending vessels.
Senator Allison took similar grounds, as
did Senator Morgan. while other Demo
cratic Senators declared their intent ton 10
support the President in any patriot Q
movement of that kind. Senator Teller,
however. had gravedoubts as to the ability
of the United States to protect the seals
without the cooperation of England. He
pointed to the obstacles in the way of
efficient police patrol Of the large area of
water, and felt that il would be beg ond
the ability of our government to effectualy
exclude poacbers unless England joined in
the proclamation of exclusion.
At the conclusion of the debate it was
ordered that all of the documents shonld be
printed and then made public. 1t was the
common understanding that the treaty
should be kept before the Senate until the
correspondence had progressed sufficiently
to enable the Senators to form An idea as to
the attitude which Great Britain intends
finally to assume in respect to the modus
vivapAi