Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-03-31
AN ULTIMATUM.
Correspondence In Regard to the
Behring Sea Matter.
salisbury's keply Vague and Evasive-The
United States VIII stand No More
Trifing But VIII Protect
Her Interests.

Her Interests.
WASHINGTON, March 25-Following
are the main features of the CORE
spondence between Lord Salisbury and
the state department on the Behring
sea dispute:
BRITISH LEGATION, WASHINGTON, March
19.-Sir: On receipt of your note of the Sth
inst Immediately telegraphed to Marquis of
Salisbury the substance of its contents in &C
cordance with the request which you expressed
on behalf OF the president, and now have the
honor to 8Aform you that have received this
day reply from his lordshfp by telegram to
the following effect:
Lord Salisbury again points out that the in.
formation in the possession Of her n1aiesty's
government does not lead them to believe that
another years suspension of sealing is neceS-
sary tocprevert an undue diminution of the seal
heroS bis lordSh1p, however proceeds to OBJ
serve that beyond this question it is considered
by your government that they have a right
to be protected from the loss which
they may incur from free sealing being per-
m1tted this year, even IL their claim to Behring
sea be upheld by the arbitrators. He states
that her majestys government does not dis
pute that after the ratification Of the conyen-
ton there will be some foundation for this con-
tentlon, Dut ne adds that the prohibition of all
sealing as remedy has this defect, that the
British sealers excluded from Behring sea would
have an undoubted ground for complaint if the
6r1tlSn Claims SnOulQ be upheiQ Dy the arD1tra-
tors. Moreover there is no security that the
arbitration will be concluded before the sealing
season OF 1893 Thus an arbitration between
Great Britain. the United States and Portugal,
which has already occupied four years, is still
pending. Serious damage would be caused to
the industry by suspension of sealing for a
long period. In view Of all the above
considerations it appears to her males
tvs government that it would be more equitable
to provide that sealing shall continue on the
condition that 10 IF
sci shall give security for satisfying any dam
ages which the arbitrator may adjudge. I
shall be glad to learn that the above suggeS-
tons meet with the concurrence of your gov
eminent. have the honor, ETC.,
JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.
Acting Secretary of State Wharton, in the
course of his reply which is rather lengthy,
says:
Already forty-seven Canadian vessels have
cleared for the sealing grounds as against
thirty one at the same date last year and
engaged in following up and destroying the seal
herds These vessels will, If not stopped and
turned back at the passes, go into the Behring
sea and pursue tC the very shores of our islaadS
the slaughter Of the mother seals seeking the
rookeries to be delivered of their young This
Is crime againS nature.
That in view Of this serious contention Of this
government his 1ordship should assume that
another years suspension of such sealing is
not necessary to prevent an undue diminutiOn OF
the seal herds and should insist that pending
arbitration had been agreed upon, is as sur
prisfng as it is disappointing If her majesty's
government little respects the claims and
contentious Of this government as to be I'M
willing to forbear for single season to disre-
gard them, the president cannot
understand why Lord Salisbury
should have proposed and agreed to give to
those claims the dignity and standing which q
reference to high court of arbitration implies.
From the moment an arbitration agreed
upon neither party was at liberty to disregard
the contentious OF the other. 1t must be as
sumed that the sincere purpose of the two gov
ernments was to promote peace and good WILL
but if pending the arbitration either deals with
the subject Of it solely on the basis of it's
contention and in utter disregard of the claims
of the other, this friendly end is not
onvl not attained but sense of injury and
injustice is added, even il it should be found
possible to proceed with arbitration under
such conditions. For it must not be forgotten
that, if her majestys government proceeds
during this scaling seaS9n upon the basis of it's
contention as to the rights of the Canadian
sealers no choice is left to this government but
to proceed the basis of its confident con-
tention that pelagic sealing in the Behring sea
is an infraction of it's Jurisdiction and property
rights His lordship will hardly fail to see this.
Herein, in the opinion of the president,
sists the gravity of the present situatico and
he is not willing to be found in any degree re-
sponsiOle for the results that may follow the
insistence By either government during this
season upon the extreme rights claimed by it.
In his opinion it would discredit in the eyes of
the world the two great governments in volved
If the paltry profits of a single season should
be allowed to thwart even disturb the
honorable and friendly adjuS tment of heir
differences, which is so nearly concluded:
but If his lordShip shall adhere to his
refusal to unite with US in prompt
and effective measures to stop pela gc sealing
and shall insist upon free sealing for the British
subjects, the question as it affects this govern
nlent is no longer one of pecuniary loss gain,
but OF honor and Self-reSDoct
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 sells to
indemnify it for the injury they may severally
inf1ict upon our jurisdiction property and
must decline to discuss suggestion which only
his respect for Lord Salisbury and his belief
that his lordShip has q due appreciation of the
gravity of this discussion, enable him to treat
with seriousness. We should doubtless have to
pursue and capture upon the sea many of tie
owners OF those vessels to secure the bonds
suggested, and as the condition is to be that
the obligers shall pay "any damages which the
arbitrator may adjudge - while the treaty
gives the arbitrators no power to adjudge any
damages. that transaction would be without
risk to the obl1gerS and OF no value to US. This
government cannot consent to have what it be-
lieves to be its rights destroyed impaired
pending their determination by an agreed trib-
unal, however adequate the security offered.
In closing MIR. Wharton saws:
The president directs me to say in conclu-
sion that the modus of last year Is the least this
government accept In reason, the re-
straints, 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 subnitte4 the considcra-
lions which support the just demand OF this
government that the property which is the OBJ
ject of an agreed arbitration shall not be SUBJ
ject to spoliation pending the arbitra-
ton, he expresses the hope that Lord Sails
bury will give prompt and friendly assent to
renew the modus. The president viii hear with
regret that her majesty's government continues
to assert right to deal with this subject pre-
cisely as If mo provision had been made for
settlement of the dispute: and in this event this
government, As has already been pointed out
will be comoened to deal with the subject on
the same basis and to use every means in it's
power to protect from destruction or serious
Injury property and juriSdic.ion1l rights which
1t has long claimed and enjoyed
AN IMPORTANT DECISION.
All Necessary Employees of an InsoIvent
Firm Preferred Creditors
CINCINNATI, March 25-The circuit
court, with three judges on the bench,