The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-03-08
BEHRING SEA BATTLE
The President Repeats Our Gov
\ ernment's Attitude.
LoRD SALISBURY UNREASONABLE,

4 EotiaLions
WASHINGTON, March S.--The presi-
Gent has taken the Behring sea question
in hand. Yesterday in the enforced alb
sence of Mr.. Blaine on account of sick
ness he had an extended interview with
Hon. John w. Foster, who has the mat
ter in charge in the state department.
Lord Salisbury's refusal to reLew the
modus vivendi leaves the questions in
dispute where they were prior to June,
1890. At that time Sir Julian Paunce-
fote, the British minister to Washing
ton, stated the position of England as
follows:
Great Britnin's Position.
Her Britannia majesty's government
have learned with great concern, from
notices which have appeared in the
press, and the general accuracy of which
has been confirmed by Mr.. Blaines
statements to tho undersigned, that the
government of the United States have
Issued instructions to the revenue cruis-
ers about to be dispatched to Behring
sea, under which the vessels of British
subjects will again be exposed, in the
prosecution of their legitimate industry
VII tHt HiBH staS, W uHHlWlul interior
ence at the hands of American officers.
Her majestys government is anxious to
cooperate to the fullest extent of their
power with the government of the
United States in such measures us may
be found to be expedicnt for the pro-
lection of the seal fisheries. They are
at the present moment engaged in ex-
amining, in concert with the govern
ment of the United States, the best
method of arriving at an agreement
upon this point. But they cannot admit
the right Of tho United States, of their
own sole motion, to restrict for th.'
purpose the freedom of navigation of
the Belring sea which the United States
have in former years successfully vim
dicated, nor to enforce their municipal
Legislation against British vessels on the
high seas beyond the limits of their ter
ritory or jurisdiction.
Her Majesty's Governments Protest.
Her majesty's government is therefore
unable to pass over without notice the
public announcement of an intention on
the part of the government of the United
States to renew the acts of interference
with British vessels navigating outside
the territorial waters of the United
States, of which they have previously
had to complain.
structed to protest against such inter
ference, and TO declare that her Britanic
majesty's government must hold the
government of the United States respon-
Eible for the consequences that may en-
sue from acts which are contrary to the
established principles of international
law.
Secretary Blaine in August, 1890, re-
plying to Lord Salisbury proposition to
arbitltrate, cited the questions in dis
pute. In view of the recent failure to
reach basis for arbitration the secre-
farys statement is interesting ms show
hng the present position of the United
States government on the question. 1t
Is US follows:
Our Governments Position.
''First-What exclusive jurisdiction in
the sea known as 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 to the United States?
"Second-How far was these claims
.of jurisdiction as to the seal fisheries
recognized 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 1925 between Great Britain
and Russia, and what rights, if any, in
the Behring sea We're given or conceded
TO Great Britain by the said treaty?
''Fourth-Did not all the rights of
Russia as to jurisdiction and as to seal
fisheries in Behring sea east OF the
~,ater boundary, in the treaty between
The United States and Russia of March
%, 1867, pass unimpaired to the United
States under that treaty?
nEiffb--Wlint orn now tbn ~. f,f
the United States as to the fur seal fish
cries i'll the waters Of Behring sea out
si,!e of the ordinary territorial limits,
whether such rights grow ont of the
ceSsion by Russia of any special rights
or jurisdiction held by her IN such fish
cries or in the waters of Behring sea or
put OF the ownership of the breeding
Islands and the habits OF the seals in re-
sorting thither and rearing their Young
thcreon, and going out from the islands
for food, or out of any other fact or incl
dent connected with the relation OF the
seal fisheries to the territorial posses
sians of the United States?
'.Sixth-1f the determination of the
foregoing questions shall leave the sub
Ject in such position That the concur
Tence of Great Britain is necessary i'll
prescribing regulations for the killing
OF the fur seal in any part of the waters
% behilhS sea, thel IL snail be lurther
determined;
81. How far, if at all, outside the orli-
nary territorial limits it is necessary
that the United States should exercise
an exclusive Jurisdiction in order to pro-
tect the seal for the time living upon
the Islands Of the United States and
feeding thertfrom2
''2. Whether closer season during
which the killing Of seals in the waters
OF Behring sea outside the ordinary ter
ri'orial limits shall be prohibited) ia nee
essary to save the seal fishing industry,
30 valuable and important 10 mankind,
From deterioration or destruction, and if
go what months or parts ofmonths should
Ibe included. in such season, and over
what waters should it extendYn
Assertions Without Foundation.
The repeated assertions that the gov