The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-04-01
AN ULTIMATUM.
Correspondence in Regard to the
Behring Sea Matter.
salisbury's hsply Vngue and Evasive-The
United states VIII Stand No More
Trifiing But VIII Protect
Her Interests.

WASHINGTON, March 25-Following
are the main features of the corre-
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 ac-
| cordance with the request which you expressed
on behalf OF the president, and now have the
| honor to inform you that 1 have received this
day reply from HIS lordship by telegram to
! the following effect:
Lord Salisbury again points out that the in
| formation in the possession Of her majesty s
| government does not lead them to believe that
| another years suspension OF sealing is neces-
sary to prevent an undue diminution of the seal
| herds. His lordship, however, proceeds to OBJ
serve that beyond this question Ii is considered
| by your government that they have right
| TO be protected from the loss which
| they may incur from free sealing being per-
mitted this year, even II their claim to Behriny
| sea be upheld by the arbitrator. He states
! that her majesty's government does not dis
| pute that after the ratification OF the cOnven-
| tion there Will be some foundation for this con-
tention, but he adds that the prohibition of all
/ sealing as remedy has this defect, that the
!
| have an undoubted ground for complaint IL the
British claims should be upheld by the arbitra-
| tors Moreover there Is no security that the
| arbitration will be concluded before the sealing
| season Of 1898 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
long period In view of all the above
| considerations it appears to her m0jes-
| tvs government thatit would be more equitable
| to provide that sealing shall continue on the
condition that the owner of every sealing YES
sci shall give security for satisfying any dam
ages which the arbitrator may adjudge.
shall be glad to learn that the above sugges-
tons meet with the concurrence of your gov
eminent. 1 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 rs against
thirty one at the same date last year and are
engaged In following up and destroying the seal
herds. These vessels will, II not stopped and
turned back at the passes, go into the Behring
sea and pursue to the very shores of our islands
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 lordship 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
an arbitration it shall go on precisely as il no
arbitration had been agreed upon, is as sur
prising as 1t is disappointing. II her majesty's
government so little respects the claims and
contentious OF this government as to be I'M
willing to forbear for q 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
reference to a high court OF arbitration implies
From the moment an arbitration was 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 10 promote peace and good will,
but il pending the arbitration either deals with
the subject Of 1t solely on the basis OF its own
contention and in utter disregard OF the claims
of the other, this friendly end is not
onyl not attained but new sense Of injury and
injustice is added, even IL it should be found
possible 10 proceed with an arbitration under
such conditions. For it must not be forgotten
that, il her majesty's government proceeds
during this sealing season upon the basis Of its
contention as TO the rights of the Canadian
sealers no choice Is left to this government but
to proceed on the basis OF its confident con-
tention that pelagic sealing in the Behring sea
is an infractiOn of its jurisdiction and property
rights His lOrdship will hardly fail 10 see this
Herein, in the opinion OF the president, con-
sists the gravity OF the present situation and
he is not willing to be found in any degree re-
sponsible for the results that may follow the
ihsistence by either government during this
season upon the extreme rights claimed by it.
In his opinion it would discreiit in the eyes Of
the world the two great governments involved
If the pdltry profits OF u single season should
no allowed In tbyEnrt even disturb the
honorable and friendly adjustment 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 pel1gic sealing
and shall insist upon free sealing for the British
subjects, the question as it affects this govern
ment Is no longer one Of pecuniary loss or gain,
but one OF honor and self-respect.
The president finds 1t 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 severally
infiict upon our jurisdiction or property and
must decline to discuss a suggestion which only
his respect for Lord Salisbury and his belief
that his lordship has 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 the
owners OF those vessels to secure the bonds
the obligers shall pay ANY damages which the
arbitrator may adiudge" while the treaty
gives the arbitrator no power 10 adJudge any
damages, that transaction would be without
risk to the obligers and Of no value 10 U.s. This
government cannot consent to have what II be-
lieves to be IT'S rights destroyed or impaired
pending their determination by an agreed trib-
unal however adequate the security offered.
In closing Mr.. Wharton saws:
The president directs me TO say in conclu-
sion that the modus Of last years. the least this
government can accept In reason, the re-
straints, after q 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 considcra-
tons which support the just demand Of this
government that the property which Is the OBJ
iect Of an agreed arbitration shall not be sub
ject to q spoliation pending the erbitra-
lion. he expresses the hope that Lord Sails
bury will give prompt and friendly assent to
renew the modus. The president will hear with
regret that her maiesty's government continues
10 assert right 10 deal with this subject pre-
cisely as IL no provision had been made for q
settlement Of the dispute: and in this event this
government, as has already been pointed out.
will be compelled 10 deal with the subject on
the same basis and to use every means in its
power 10 protect from destruction or serious
Injury property and jurisdiction1l rights which
il has long claimed and enjoyed
AN IMPORTANT DECISION.