Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-03-17
LETTERS OF DIPLOMATS
Behring Sea Correspondence
Submitted to the Senate.
RENEWAL OF THE MoDUs yIvENDl
VIII Probably Re Insisted Upon by the
United States Pending the De-
cision of the Proposed Arbi-
tration Tribunal.

WASHINGTON, March 10.-The president
Las sent to the senate the correspondence
In regard to the Behring sea question Gov
ering the period from April 81, 1851, to
date. OF the recent correspondence the
most important letters are two from Sir
Julian Pauncefote under date of Feb %
and March Z, and the reply sent Tuesday.
Sir Julian's Notes.
In his note of Feb 90, Sir Julian informs
Mr.. Blaine that Lord Salisbury does not
admit, as previously indicated by Mr.,
Blaine, that the delays have been greater
on the part of Great Britain than the
United States He says that the British
commissioners have reported that there is
no danger of serious diminution of the
seals and therefore the necessity of a
modus vivendi is not apparent Still he
would not object to the prohibition limited
to a zone not more than thirty miles
around the Priblov islands, provided the
catch on the islands be limited to $50, 600
In his note of March Sir Julian pre-
sents arguments in support OF Lord Sails
bury's refusal to accede to another modus
vivendi. He says the first was agreed to
under stipulation that the measure could
not be repealed and that there is no appar-
emit danger to the seal species He adds
that the zone proposed is more extensive
than that mentioned by Mr.. Blaine on
March 49, 1897, and that the anticipation
Of conflicts, considered in the note Of May
A. 1891, has been met by the provisions OF
the Behring sea act of parliament and or
der in council.
The Response.
In the response sent Tuesday, Assistant
Secretary Wharton states that the presi-
dent notices with the deepest regret the
indisposition of her majesty's government
to agree upon an effective modus for the
preservation of the seals in the Behring
sea pending the settlement of the respec-
tive rights of the two governments in
those waters and in the fur seal fisheries
therein. He calls attention to the
fact that the treaty of arbitration
awaits only the action of the Ameri-
can senate, and that the Judgment
of the arbitration tribunal cannot be
stated in time to control the conduct of
the sealers during the present season.
The urgent question, he says, is what
does good faith, to say nothing of inter
Etplittt VI Ntt pdTtitS 10
the arbitration Was it ever heard be-
fore, he asks, that one party to such
whether a nation or an in
could appropriate the whole or
any part of the income ana profits, much
less the body of the contested proverty ?
Pending the litigation, without account
ability? 1t is no answer for the tres
plsser, it is contended, TO say that the |
true owner will have an undimnished |
harvest next year Last years harvest |
was his also and further, this government !
has already been advised that Great |
Britain repudiates all obligations to in |
lemnify the United States for any inva- |
sion of its jurisdiction or any injury done
% its sealing property by the Canadian
sealers.
In conclusion, it is stated that the gov
eminent will honorably abide by the judg-
nent OF the arbitration tribunal which has
been agreed upon, whether that Judgment
De favorable or unfavorable, and will not
seek to avoid a just responsibility for any
If its acts which by the Judgment are
ound to be unlawful Bur certainly the
United States cannot be expected to sus-
,end the defense, by such means as are
within its power, of the property and juris-
lictional rights claimed by it pending the
and TO consent to receive them
rom that tribunal, if awarded, shon of
much of their value by the acts of ire
mon ible persons