The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-15

| Tho five points proposed Tor arbitration
| in the treaty before tho Senate arc these:
IL what exclusive jurisdiction in the known
as tho Rehring Sea and what exclusive rights IN tho
seal Fisheries therein d!L Russia assert and exercise
prior up the time OF the cession OF Alaska to the
United states:
- How far these claims Of jurisdiction as 10
the sea; fisheries recognized and conceded BY Great
| Br tain!
- was tho body of water now known as the rehrins
Sea included in the phrase racihr ocean as used in
the treaty Of 49,. between Britain and Russia:
what rights II any. in the Behring Sea- were held
aud excluiveiy exercised by Russia after sad ,rcny
- Did not all the rights OF Russia rs to jurisdiction.
and the seal fisheries IN Bchrnr Sea east or tile
! water boundary. III the treaty nc,wcen tho United
states and Russia II the ao;h March. 1867. pass unn.
paired to til. United states under that treaty:
-" Has the United states right. and il SO. what
right of protection or property in tn" fur seals fire..
quening the islands OF the tinted states in Behrns
Sea when such seals are tound outside the ordinary
three mile limit '
The first, second. third and fourth points
concern one and the same question. that Of
our right to exercise exclusive jurisdiction
over the waters of Rchring Sea.
# this question is decided favorably to
the United States. our Government will bo
enabled to prevent in Bchring Sea the
pcagic slaughter which threatens to cxter-
inmate the Alaska fur seal.
But our Government vii! not he abb" to
prevent the transfer uc the same prc,ittorr
operations of the Canadian butchers to the
waters of the open Pacific south Of the Aleu-
tinn islands: and continued in that quarter
the destruction Of seal life by Canadian
greed will likewise result in determination.
Has any person who's" opinion in matters
of international law is worth u rap the
slightest doubt us to what will he the de-
cision OF al international tribunal on tho
claim of exclusive ownership of IL part of
the North Pacific Ocean. in area twice as
large as the Caribbean and larger than the
Mediterranean Sea
4 hundred to one that the decision Of the
arbit,ntors is against rs on the question or
claim involved in tn" first. second. third
and fourth points. And yet even il it should
be for us, even if the finding of the Paris
tribunal should establish onr exclusive
jurisdiction over the waters of BchrinS Sea.
the fur seal would bn just as much at ths
mercy of the pclagic butchers as soon as
th;rt animal passed the Aleutian line on its
annual circuit of migration.
The fifth point attempts to establish II
prOEcrty right in the seals: to treat the
creatures not as ferT ndi,rT which the
are. as much as are whales. or shad. or cod
fish. or wild ducks. but as something which
the United States Government can follow
and protect and regulate beyond the limits
OF its territory as ii follows and protects its
own citizens or its ships.
Does any sane person doubt that the de-
cision OF the Paris arbitrators on this point
will be prompt. and promptly adverse?
What. then. will DO gained for the pres
ervaton of the fur seal. the main purpose
of the remarkable treaty which the Senate
is asked to ratify?