Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-23
SALISBURY'S REPLY.
The President Lays 1t Before the
Senate Today.
A SPIRITED OINDER
The President Expresses q Purpose to Protect
the American Interests Even IL Military
Force is Necessary-The Note From Sails
bury Said tn BE ENasive and Unsatisfactory.

President Harrison sent to the Senate today
copy Of his reply to Lord Salsbury's last
note. Its concluding paragraph is very war
like in tone and contains, in substance, an ulti-
matum to the British government
LAID BEFORE THE SENATE.
The Presidents message transmitting Lord
Salisbury's reply to the last note from this gov
ernment relative to the modus vivendi was laid
before the Senate in executive session
at l o'clock. Lord Salisbury's reply is
a virtual reiteration of his declination
To renew the modus vivendi on the
same terms as existed last year. After half an
hour discussion the correspondence was re-
ferred to the committee on foreign relations
and the doors were reopened. Tho CORE
spondence was not made public
The President in his letter announced that
he had made q rejoinder to Lcrd salisbury's
reply.
LORD sALIsBURy's NOTE
Lord salisbury's note may be described as
synopsis of the detailed reply to the State De-
partment note, which is to follow by mall. His
refusal to consent to renewal Of the modus
vIvendi is accompanied with several counter
propositions, the reading of which was re-
ceived with ill-suppressed irritation by the
Senate.
The general character Of the note is described
reJoinder was also, stated. transmitted to
the Senate. 1t is punSent communication. in
which the President broadly but in diplomatic
language hints that Lord Salisbury has not met
hls overtures Ia a straightforward, business
like manner.
AN ULTrMATUM TO GREAT BRITAIN.
The President insists upon renewal OF the
modus vivendi without reference to insignif-
cant or irrelevant conditions, and closes his
note with the stirring assertion that if
the government of Great Britain
declines to assist in the protection Of the seals
during the arbitration of the claims Of the
United States he will proceed to enforce the
laws and exclude poachers from Bering sea. If
the military force of the United States is re-
quired to accomplish Il.
SENSATION IN THE SENATE.
The note created sensation in the Senate.
The gravity of the case has led to a renewal
of the strongest efforts of the Senators
to prevent the public from being made ac-
quainted with the facts until the correspondence
has progressed further. There was no express
sion of opinion by the President in his letter
of transmittal but this was not needed. in view
of the clearly defined position assumed by him
in his reioinder to Lord Salisbury, which ap-
peared to meet with the unanimous approval of
the Senators.
Although there has been nothing in the ma
ture of direct vote upon the treaty
of arbitration, and there is we'll
defined opposition to it a sur
render by the United States of her rights
acquired by the treaty from Russia, il can be
stated the treaty will soon be ratified by
the Senate. But a resolution will accompany
it reciting that there does not appear to be any
sufficient reason that the United States should
abate its claims to jurisdiction pending ar rbitra-
tion and authorizing the President to use all the
force of the military arm Of the government to
secure the protection Of the rights Of the
United States.
There is no action on the part Of the Senate
necessary In the matter, but the message is
understood to have been sent that the Sena-
tors might be folly informed as to the situa-
tion, it may effect this action on the arbitra-
tion treaty.
1t is believed that the opposition to the rati-
hcation OF the treaty is gaining in strength.
PLEASED WITH THE PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE
The communication sent by the President to
the Senate in executive session today would
seem to indicate the possession by the ad-
minisiration of an amount of backbone quite
formidable as that displayed in the
Chilean matter. Senators are discussing
with good deal of gravity the complications
which now exist between the United States and
Great Britain and without regard to politics
they seem generally very much pleased at
the stiffness of the Presidents atti-
tude. The reply to Lord Salisbury's last
part Of this government to protect the seal
fishery and uphold the principle involved at
any cost. The committee on foreign relations
to which the correspondence was referred, will
be heard from, it is said, either this evening or
tomorrow as soon as the Senate meets.