New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-04
THE BEHRING SEA DISPU TIE.
LORD SALISBURY REFUSES TO RENEW THE
MODt'S VIVENDI.
NOTHING STANDS IN THE WAY OF THE DE.
sTRUCTION OF THE sBALs-AN ABSURD
COMPROMISE - POSSIBLE CoNsE-


COMPROMISE - POSSIBLE coNsE-
oUENCEs OF THE REFUSAL
London, March 3.-Lord Salisbury has informed
the Washington authorities that he is unwilling.
pending arbitration proceedings in the Behrin9
Sea dispute TO consent to "A renewal OF the modus
vivendi of last year. lie is willing, however.
TO take the necessary steps for putting stop
during the coming season TO pelagic sealing within
thirty miles of the Pribyloff Islands.
Washington, March 3 lSpecial.-NO one who has
carefully followed the various phases Of the ne
gotiations in the pending controversy over the
seal fisheries in Behring Sea will he surprised to
learn that Lord Salisbury refuses 10 consent to q
renewal of the mOdus vivendi of last year. The
information which reaches The Tribune by way OF
Lolslo is practically confirmed here. At any rate.
it's correctness is not denied. As long ago as lass
November Lord Salisbury began making difficulties
md raising objections 10 renewal OF the
modus. Those difficulties and objections were
referred to number Of times in these
dispatches But they were not based. ap-
parently, upon any substantial grounds. htte
importance seemed TO attach to them So long 40
the treaty itself referring the entire controversy
to arbitration remained unsigned. Even as late
last week, about the time that Lord Sails
bury finally agreed to authorize Sir Julian Paunce-
believe that the British Government would IN
the end resist n proposition so eminently fair
and so absolutely necessary in order to protect from
utter destruction the fast dwindling seal herds.
The reason for Lord Salisburys refusal 10 re-
new the modus vivendi Of last wear are not stated
in the London DISPATCH and the State Dcpart-
ment, il it has been furnished with any suoh
reasons, is unwilling at present to make them
public 1t is difficult TO imagine what they can
be- Whatever they are, the pra;tical ehsct Oh
Lord Salisbury's refusal will be the lndisctihn"t
slaughter Of tens Of thousands OF seaAs ans
possibly their determination. Neither Oahads
nor Great Britain will derive any beneht from
such q course, but il will prove serious IMAM
oial loss to the United States Bad as the modus
vivendi OF last year was, it might, II enroiceo
in time thi. year. have proved reasonably enIcen@
Owing to the delay and to the policy OF pro-
crsstination pursued systematically by LORD SAILS
bury, which prevented an agreement last year
until too late in the season TO be OF any practca.
rood. Canadian poachers were enabled 10 Kill
62. 900 seals while the United States Goverhmeh'
found itself bound to permit the lessees OF 'no
islands to take no more than 1900 SKINS.
The proposition which Lord Salisbury is said to
no willing to entertain, l. c., TO prevent seal from
being taken within thirty miles of the PrinyloH
Islands s absurd on the face of IL, IL is aDso-
lutely impracticable in fact so mpractlcaoie tia'
il /, difficult to believe il was made IN good 1ai'h.
How is an imaginary line thirty miles distant nom
shore IN be established? How, especially, Is lo
70 br established in the neehboIhood Of these TWO
islands which are almost half the year hld Id
impenetrable fogsp
The complications which may result ron ho'o
Saisbury's refusal to renew the modus vivenos
NAV prove to he Of the gravest nature Ihe
President may see himself compelled to enforce
the law which directs the seizure OF poacners III
Iehri Sea- or he may dean q .e e,sary 10 canceis
as measure Of rcprisal, the valuable bonding prNl-
leaes now enjoyed by Canadian railroads, hotaoy
the Canadian Pacific. To the dctrlment OF lines
within the United States. IL ID not ukely thae
tle international commission 10 which tie whole
controversy is to be referred VIII hnlsh its
labors until long after the sealing season mas
opened In the meantime hundreds OF poachers
viii have started from Victoria and British Column
bia upon their annual marauding expeditions.
England has threatened 10 resist by force tho
seizure of poachers by United States cruisers
Ent shall the United States, is Is asked, stand
idy by and permit. pending arbitration. the de-
strnction OF the property in dispute?
By the time the board Of arbitration reaches
n conclusion there nay be nothing left 10 afoi-
frat, about The seal will simply have disap-
reared II this he Lord Salshury's object ha
has certainly taken the most effective steps u
attain il in refusing TO renew the modus 'ivend'
last