, 1892-03-25
Boring Sea Governmental Cor
respondence Made Public.
Lord Salisbury's Replies to
Wharton Creates Surprise.
" Ts r. III
Uncle Sam Claims His Rights
and Will Have Them.
The Senate Taken to Task For
Criticizing the Newspapers.
Bering Sea Trouble.

WASHINGTON, March = cor
respondence received yesterday by the
senate from the president relative to
Boring sea was made public today. The
first, communication is from Sir Julian
Pauncofote to. MI. Wharton, under date
of March 10. stating he had received a
reply from Lord Salisbury to Wharton's
note of the, 8th inst. to the following ef-
feet: Lord Salisbury again points out
the Information In possession of her
majestv's government which does not
lead them to believe another years sus
pension of sealing is necessary to prevent
undue dimunition of the seal herds. His
lordship, however. proceeds to observe
that beyond this question it is considered
BY your government that they have a
right to be protected from a loss they may
incur from free sealing this year in the
event of their claim to Boring sea being
upheld BY arbitration.
He states her -najesty's government
does not dispute that after a ratification
of the convention there will be some foun-
dalton for this contention, but adds that
the prohibition of all sealing as a remedy
has this defect: That the British sealers
excluded from Bering sea would have an
%undoubted ground of complaint if the
British claims are upheld by arbitrator.
Moreover, there's no security that an arbi-
tration will be concluded before the sealing
season of 1898. A serious damage would
be caused industry by the suspension of
sealing ior a long period. In view OF all
the above considerations. it appears to
her maiesty's government it would be
more equitable to provide that sealing in
the Beripg sea shall continue on condi-
ton that the owner of every sealing vessel
shall give security for satisfying any dam
ages the arbitrators may adiuge. 1 ahall
be glad to learn the above suggestions
meet with the concurrence of your gov
eminent.
Under date of March %, Mr.. Wharton
replied as follows: II am directed BY
the president to say your note of the 10Th
inst. has had his immediate attention
and in view of what he deems the ex-
IRENE urgency aud gravity of the matter.
An urgency grows out of the fact that a
further protraction will make any modus
Intellectual TO protect the interest of the
United States and give the Canadian seal
ers a practical immunity by reason of the
impossibIlity of communication to them
the agreed restrictions.
L 10 huo"u " thO koNCIhuutub Iuab
s~ealers have fastened their departure to
escape notice of a possible modus and
every day almost adds to the feet that
must now be o~verhauled at sea. Already
forty seven Canadian vessels have cleared
for the sealing grounds, as against thirty
one at the same time last year. and are
engaged IN following up and destroying
seal herds. These vessels will, if not
stopped aud turned back at the passes. go
into Bering sea and pursue to the very
shores of our islands and slaughter the
northern seals seeking accustomed rock
cries TO be delivered of their Young.
This is a crime against nature. This
government expects to show, it arbitra-
ton proceeds. that the female seals con-
stitute a larger portion OF the catch OF
pelagic s~ealers. That in view of the
serious and confident contention of this
government, his lordship should assume
another years suspension of such sealing
is not a necessity Ito prevent undue
diminution of seal herds" and should in
| sist that pending arbitration it shall go on
tprecisely as if no arbitration had been
agreed upon. is surprising as it is dissap-
pointing. If her majesty's government
has so little respect of the claims and con.
tentions of this government, as to be un
willing for a single season to disregard
! them, the president cannot understand
why Lord Salisbury should have proposed
and agreed to give to those CLAIMS the
| dignity and Standing which a reference to
a high court of arbitration implies.