Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-24
BBNNIE'S BACK Is UP
A Sharp Note Sent to Lord
Salisbury.
The Fur Seal Dispute Brought
to a Crisis.
Correspondence on the Subject Laid
Before the Senate.
The Crave and Reverend Seigniors Irri-
tated by Salisbury's EGuivocatiOn.
The Presidents Defiant
Message.

Associated Press Dispatches.
WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator Sher-
man and Gen. John M. Foster OF the
state department. held conference with
the president this morning on the ad-
visibility OF prompt transmission to the
senate of the Bering sea correspondence
which has passed between this country
and Great Britain since the Sth instant.
The. correspondence consists, it is under
stood, OF two notes the first being Lord
Salisbury's cabled note of the 18th, and
the reply from the president, dated
yesterday. 1t is broadly intimated that
it is the implied disposition on the part
of Great Britain to resent any interfer-
ence by this government with vessels
flying the English flag in pelagic sealing
in Bering sea, which would undoubtedly
result in the rejection of the treaty in
its present form.
The Bering sea correspondence was
laid before the senate executive session
at noon. The reading of Salisbury's
note, refusing to consent to renewal of
the modus vivendi, and making counter
propositions, was received with ill-sup-
pressed irritation by the senate. The
note is evasive and equivocating. The
presidents rejoinder broadly hints that
Salisbury has not met the overtures in
straightforward manner; insists on the
renewal of the modus vivendi, without
reference to the insignificant or irrele
want conditions, and closes with the
stirring assertion that if Great Britain
declines to assist in protecting the seals
during the arbitration, he will proceed
to enforce the laws and exclude poach-
ers from Bering sea, if the military
forces of the United States should be re-
quired to accomplish it. The note Gre
ated sensation in the senate. After a.
half-hour's discussion the correspond
ence was referred to the committee on
foreign affairs.
The gravity of the case led to the
strongest effort on the part of the sena-
tors to prevent the public from being
made acquainted with the facts until
the correspondence progressed further.
There is no expression of opinion by the
president in the letter transmitting Sal
isbury's note, but this is not needed in
view OF the clearly defined position as
sumed by him in his rejoinder to Sails
bury, which appeared to meet the unan-
imous approval of the senators, al
tuOuSu uu0 OcUdlc ltSCll was IOO suOTC
to disclose officially the standing of the
senators.
Although there has been nothing in
the nature of direct vote upon the
treaty of al bitration, and that there is
we'll defined opposition to it, as eur
render by the United States of her
rights as acquired by treaty with Russia,
it can be stated that the treaty will
coon be ratified by the senate. But a
resolution will accompany it, reciting
that there does not appear to be any
sufficient reason for abatement by the
United States of its claims to jurisdic-
tion, pending arbitration, and author
izing the president to use all the mill
tary armament of the government to
insure the protection of the rights of
the United States.
Lord Salisbury does not, in his note,
refuse to enter into modus vivendi of
some kind but, automatically speak
ing, fails to consent" to the PROPOSE
tion made by this government. Inas-
much as the senate has refused to make
the correspondence public, it is difficult
to get clear idea of the points intended
to be conveyed, but undoubtedly the
impression generally given was that
Lord Salisbury refused to renew last
years arrangement. 1t can be stated
that there is nothing in the nature of
an ultimatum on the part of either gov
ernment in the correspondence laid be-
fore the Seaate. 1t is still considered
incomplete, but underlying the formal
phraseology of diplomacy is an evident
intention ON the part of this government
to bring the matter to the point of def
mite determination before the season is
far advanced. The presidents reply, it
is thought, will greatly tend to the at
tainment Of the desired result.