Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-26
The Senate Further COnsid-
ers the Convention.
A Vote on 1t Expected to Be
Taken Next Week.
The Probabilities Are in Favor of
It's Ratification.
Senator FELTON, Leads the Opposition
for Its Rejection-Blaine Attends
the Cabinet Meeting-Navol
Preparations.

Associated Press Dispatches.
WASHINGTON, March 25.--rhe senate
today spent two and a half hours in
further consideration of the Bering sea
arbitration treaty. A vote is expected
on the motion TO ratify the treaty some
time next week. The discussion has
established a strong probability that
the treaty will be ratified. The senators
who oppose it as whole, are few in
number, and find their principal repre-
sentative in FELTON, of California. His
opposition is based upon the idea that
it contemplates the possible surrender
of absolute rights acquired by the
United States from Russia.
But the most formidable opposition is
made up of members who believe that
the treaty should be accompanied by
a resolution directing the president to
withhold the exchange of final ratifca-
ton until Great Britain consents to re-
new the modus vivendi.
1t has been represented by members
of the foreign relations committee that
the adoption of such resolution would
defeat the treaty, for Great Britain
wculd never consent to be placed in the
attitude of renewing the modus vivendi
through fear of results.
! There is another element in the SEN
ste that seeks to follow ratification with
e resolution indorsing the presidents
ection up to this point, and asserting
strongly the purpose OF this govern
ment to protect it's property in the seal
islands at all hazards, pending arbitra-
ton. This element appeared today to
have gathered strength.
SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION.
The seriousness OF the Berng sea
situation is shown by the attendance OF
Secretary Blaine at the cabinet meeting
today, Notwithstanding his recent i'll.
ness. The other members were all
| present also.
Secretaries Foster and Tracy held
conference prior to the meeting, pre-
sumably with regard to orders to naval
and revenue vessels assigned to duty in
patrolling the seal grounds. 1t is prac-
tically settled that the warships Charles
ton, Baltimore, Boston, Yorktown, Adams
MOhican and the revenue vessels Cor
win, Bear, Rush and Albatross will be
assigned to this duty.
1t is understood that decision was
reached that the government will await
the reply of Lord Salisbury to the pree-
ident's last note before proceeding on
the assumption that the English gov
ernment will not cooperate in measures
to protect the sealing industry.
NAVAL PREPARATIONS.
The navy department authorities
hardly know how far to 60 in the line of
extraordinary preparations until the
international correspondence withsref.
erence to the Bering sea dispute
bears more conclusive aspect.
Meanwhile. although the navy officials
| concede that our relations with Great
Britain are decidedly strained, few of
them in reality expect actual hostiiities
to arise. 1t is also pointed out by naval
experts that it will hardly be good poll
cy for the department to concentrate a
heavy force of vessels IN Bering sea, for
even if hostiEties should be precipiVated
by an exchange of shots in those waters
the war would not be fought thers but
nearer home.
RUSSIAN ASSISTANCE.
1t is rumored that the president has
'.been given, by the Russian minister,
eias ssurance of the Russian govern,1 ent's
cooperation with this government in
rthe matter of protecting the seals in
tEering sea, and that four men-ef war
would be ADDED to the feet of six Rus
san ironclads, now at Nladipostock.
A cabinet OAcer this afternoon stated
there was no truth in the rumoc that
Russia had agreed to cooperate with
the United States in protecting the seal
herds in Bering sea.