Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-03-10
THE SENATE'S VIEW.
Matters Concerning the
Behring Sea Treaty.
SHERMAN MAKES A POINT.
Intimates That the President Will See
That the Seals are Protected.

WASHINGTON, March 10 The senate
spent nearly three hours yesterday after
noon in the consideration of the Behring
sea seal fisheries questions. The subject
came before il through the presentation
of the presidents message transmitting
the correspondence on the subject since
May 4, 1891, between this government and
the government of Great Britain. The
presidents letter OF transmittal was read
and great deal of the correspondence was
also read by the executive clerk. On the
conclusion of the reading another debate
similar in character to that which charac.
terized Tuesday, proceedings was begun.
Moreover. the same speakers occupied the
floor and gave reasons TO strengthen the
arguments previously advanced by them
in favor of and against the ratification Of
the treaty.
The committee on foreign relations.
through its chairman, stated that IL had
not vet been able Ia fully consider the
treaty and report IL TO the senate. 1t ap-
peared from the discussion that large
majority of the senators were Of opinion
that the treaty should be amended by the
addition Of a clause providing for the re-
newal of the modus vivendi or that the
resolution of ratification should be accom-.
withhold exchange of ratifcations until
Great Britain consented to n renewal. \
great deal Of discussion consisted Of
Questions and Answers
relative TO the actual condition OF the
seal fisheries, and the exect effect OF the
operations of the poachers. 1t appeared
that very few senator's were Informed on
these points. The chairman Of the COM
mittce on foreigp affairs, Senator Sh err
man, called attention To the significant
fact that Lord Salisbury had. in the cor
respondence, repudiated any responsible
ity on the part of his government for the
action of the poachers. The senator
thought the United States had gained in
its contention by this admission He
urged strongly that when the treaty was
reported it should be ratified by the SEN
ate taking the ground that by doing 50
the United States would give evidence tn
the world of its willingness TO arbitrate
the questions involved.
Tho president might be relied upon
thereafter TO continue his efforts to secure
the consent of Great Britain to renewal
of the modus vivendi. ii he failed To re-
ceive this consent il would pnals plain TO
the world that Great Britain was not pre-
pared to act with fairness i'm the arbitra-
ton Moreover, there was, in his opinion,
no reason why, in that event, the United
States should seek for English co-opera-
tion in the protection Of our own property.
II there was n failure 10 secure a renewal
Of the agreement the
President Could lie Relied Upon
To execute the laws and seize all offending
vessels Senator Allison took similar
grounds, as did Senator Morgan, while
other Democratic senators declared their
intention to support the president in any
patriotic movement of that kind.
Senator Teller, however, had grave
doubts as to the ability of the United
States TO protect the seals without the CO.
operation of England He pointed to the
obstacles in the way of efficient police
patrol of the large area Of water, and felt
that il would be beyond the ability of our
government to effectually exclude poach-
ers unless England joined i'm the procla-
nation Of exclusion.
At the conclusion of the debate il was
ordered that all the documents should be
printed and then made public. 1t was the
common understanding that the treaty
should he kept before the senate until
the correspondence had progressed sufii-
GENTLY to enable the senator's TO form an
idea as TO the attitude which Great Baitain
intends to finally assume in respect TO
the modus vivendi
President il Pleased.
The president is exceedingly gratifled ct
the manner in which the treaty relative TO
the Behring sea matter was received I'm
the senate and the debate which followed,
especially on the Democratic side. II the
British government insists upon it's con
tention that there should be no arrange.
ment made between the two powers, pend
ing the arbitration, to prevent the killing
Of seals, there will be but one course-that
Of patrolling the Behring sea with a for
midable fleet, seizing and confiscating all
poachers within these waters. In this
course the president will be supported 10y
both parties in congress in the same spirit
which sustained his action in the Chilian
affair.