The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-25
BERING SEAS SEAL FUR.
TIE WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT
THOROUGHLY AROUSED.

a Lively OlSCu5SAOn IN IQ6 senate g
executive Session as to the Ratifca-
ton Of the Arbitration Treaty
Report from the Committee on For.
eign Relations Recommending Its
ratification.
WASHINGTON, March Pat seems sin
oulsr with grave emergency confronting
r. and affairs OF state trembling In the bal.
a7ce. the United States Senate should lose
sight OF the real issues OF the moment and
turn to scolding the newspapers for printing
news Of matter in which the people have a
legitimate interest. Yet, such is the fact
and a large part OF the time during which
the Senate has been in executive or secret
session during the past few days supposed
20 be devoting itself to the discharge
of high functions as an advisory
body to the President, has really been
devoted TO queruious complaints of news
PAPER enterprise, mutual recriminatfon for
suspected betrayal Of secrets. and searches
for the hidden channels throughout which
the press obtains its information. To-day's
session was no exception TO the rule and the
Senate, closing its doors, resorted to the
unprecedented device Of ordering the with
drawal Of ell of the heretofore trusted em-
ployes from the chamber except Secretary
McCook, but including Capt. Bassett, who
sat- outside for the first time In fifty years
service.
THE BERING SEA TREATY.
The Bering sea arbitration treaty came
before the Senate in the shape of a report
from the committee on foreign relations re-
commending its ratification. Senator Sher-
man, who made the report, supported Il in
an argument bristling with reasons for the
proposed action. He pointed to the ad Ivan
tage that would accrue to the United States
from diplomatic standpoint though our
ready acquiescence in the submission Of
the questions at issue to arbitration
and showed how Great Britain by her re-
fusal to consent to renewal of the modus
vivendi would be placed in an unenviable
light before the nations OF the world az
guilty of double dealings and an improper
purpose in sanctionfng the destruction of
the very subject Of arbitration. Attention
was also called to Lord Salisbury sarcastic
allusion to the fact that the treaty has not
yet been ratified. Other members of the
committee on foreign relations spoke In a
similar strain.
AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION,
The main topic of discussion, however.
resolution reported by Mr.. Sherman
from the committee on foreign rela-
tions to accompany it. This resolution was
In the nature OF an Endorsement of the atti-
tude assumed by the President ia the pend
ing contention, and, In substance,
assures him of the support of
the Senate in his expressed
tuli extent of the national power, The dis
cussion of this resolution occupied the
greater part Of the session. While there
might be some reason to doubt the ultimate
fate of the treaty, there can be none as to
the resolution. The resolution was free
from any ''jingoism," but revealed quiet
and settled determination on the part
OF the Senate TO maintain the
dignity OF the nation and protect its rights.
There was no belief that war would result
from the present arrangement, and for the
second time this session there was expressed
the idea that as Great Britain appeared to
be stopped from action according to her
own best enterests and principles of
common justice through Difference to the
sentiment OF Canada, it would be well to
administer to the latter, in the event of
further trouble from the seal question, a
salutary lesson by the withdrawal of that
priceless concession, the privilege of free
shipment Of products and goods through
the United States. AS already indicated,
there was no action taken to-day on the
subject. The opponents Of the treaty, who
aI6 W0SDeTn IQ60, again voiced
their objections to the surrender of our
acquired rights, and the indications are
that after further discussion the treaty will
be ratified. Any idea that the Boring sea
complications are being used as a means Of
affecting political issues in the United
States would be Immediately negatived by
the attitude assumed by the democratic
senator's who were, il possible, even more
ardent than their colleagues in arguing to-
hnnFfU MI zf H.
executive.
At the conclusion of the session the last
communications that have passed between
the government of the United States and
the government of Great Britain were given
out for publication.
AT the conclusion of the executive ses-
sion of the Senate to-day. which lasted four
hours, the correspondence received yester~
Gay from the President relative TO BerinR
sea was made public. 1t comprises two
communications as follows:
SIR PAuNoEForE To MR.. WHARTON
BRITISH LEGATION,
WASHINGTON, March 10, 1892.
SR-On receipt of your note of March i'm
medately telegraphed to the Marquis of Sails
oury the substance of its contents in accord
ance with the request which you expressed on
behalf of the President, and l have now the
honor to inform you that l have this day re-
celved reply from his lordship by telegraph to
points out that the information In possession
az her majesty's government does not
iead them to believe that another years sus-
pension OF sealing is necessary to prevent an
UNIQUE diminution of the seal herds. His lord
snip, however, proceeds to observe that beyond
THIS question it is considered by your govern
ment that they have right to be protected
rom the loss which they may incur from free
sealing being permitted this year in the event
OF their claim to Bering sea being
upheld by the arbitrators. He states
mat her majesty's government does not
dispute that after the ratification
81 the convention there will be some foundation
tor thls contention, but be adds that prohibi-
.,on OF all sealing as remedy has this defect,
mat British sealers excluded from Bering sea
you'd have an undoubted ground Of complaint
tne British claim should be upheld by the
Toitrators. Moreover, there is no security that
ae arbitration will be concluded before the
,salhg season OF 1893. Thus an arbitration be-
S@een Great Britain, the United States and
.MIuRal, which has already occupied four
iears, is still pending. Serious damage would
caused to the industry by a suspension of
ssls4llhg Tor long period. In view of all the
I've considerations, it appears to her majesty's
soSernment that it would be more equitable to
tsu,lue That sealing in Boring sea shall con-
lue on condition that the owner of every seal
~ vessel shall give security for satisfying any
fSmages which the arbitrators may adiudRe.
shall be glad to learn that the above
SSsgestion meets with the concurrence OF your
s"ernment have the honor. etc.
JULIAN PAUNcKFoTE.
Mr.. WHARTON TO SIR PAUSCEForE.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
o. WASHINGTON, D. c., March q, 1892.
NSh-l am directed By the President to say
nj Int AaIf