Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-03-31
give to the Canadian sealers practical i'm.

munity, by reason of the imposSibillty Of
communicating to them the agreed re-
Stricti0ns. 1t Is known to this government
that the Sc alerS have fastened their de-
parture to escape notice or possible
modus and that every day almost adds to
the fleet that must now be Overhauled a.
sea. Already fOrty-Seven Canadian YES
sells have cleared for the sealing grounds
Gas against thlrty-one at the same date last
year, and are engaged in following up and
destroying the seal herds. These vessels.
will, if not stopped and turned back at
the passes. go into the BehriDg Sea and
pursue to the very shores of our islands
the slaughter Of the mother seals seeking
the accustomed rookeries to be delivered
of their young. This is crime against ma
ture. This government expects to show,
if the arbitration proceeds, that female
seals constitute the larger per cent. OF the
catch of the pelaglc sealers.
That in view OF this serious and conf
dent contention of this government His
Lordshlp should assume that another years
suspension of such sealing is not necessary
Ito prevent an undue diminution of the seal
berds,'' and should insist that pending an
arbitration, it shall go on precisely as If no
arbitration had been agreed up on, is as
surprising as it is Disappointing. 1t Her
Majesty's government so little respects the
claims and contentious Of this government
as to be unwilling to fOrOear tor single
season to disregard them, the President
cannot understand why Lord Salisbury
to those claims The dignity and stand
ing which reference to high court
of arbitration implies. From the mo-
ment an arbitration was agreed up
on, neither party was at liberty
to disregard the contentious of the
other. 1t must be assumed that the SIN
cere purpose OF the two governments was
% 10 Nd will INIT
pending the arbitration, either deals with
the subject of it solely upon the basis OF
Its own contention and in utter disregard
Of the aims of the other, this friendly end
is not only not attained, but new sense
of injury and injustice is added, even it it
an arbitration under such conditions: For
1t must not be forgotten that If Her
Majesty's government proceeds during this
sealing season upon the basis of its con-
tention as to the rights OF the Canadian
sealers, no choice is left to this govern
ment but to proceed upon the basis
of It's confident intention, that pelagic
sealing in the Behring Sea is an
infraction of It's jurisdiction and
property rights. His Lordship will hardly
fail to see this. Herein, in the opinion or
the President, consists the gravity OF the
present situation, and he IS NOT Wiling 10
be found in any degree responsible for the
results that may follow the insistence by
either government during this season upon
the extreme riggs claimed by 1t. In his
opinion, it would discredit in the eyes OF
the world the two great governments in
volved, if the paltry profits OF single
season should be allowed to thWart or even
to disturb the honorable and friendly adj
iustment Of their differences, which is SO
nearly concluded; but II His LOrdshlp shall
adhere to his refusal to unite with us IN
prompt and effective measures to stop pc
lagic sealing, and shall insist upon free
sealing for British subjects the question as
it affects this gcafernmenG is no longer one
of pecuniary loss or gain, but one OF honor
and Self-reSpect.
This government, Notwithstanding the
fact that its right to take seals upon the
Prlbylotf Islands is undiSputed and who'll
ly uninvolved in the arbitration, has pro-
posed to take no profit from the island
catch, but to limit the taking of seals to
the necessities of the natives of those
islands, and it cannot consent that, with
indemnity or without, the contested rights
of British subjects to catch seals In the
Behring Sea shall be exercised pending the
arbitration. The President finds it diff
cult to believe that Lord Salisbury is seri-
Gus in proposing that this government
shall take separate bonds from the owners
of about 100 Canadian sealing vessels to in
demnify it for the injury they may severally
infict upon our jurisdiction orproperty, and
LII
only his respect for Lord Salisbury and
his belief that His Lordship has due APP
probation of the gravity OF this discussion,
enable him to treat with seriousness. We
should doubtless have to pursue and cap
ture upon the sea many OF the owners OF
those vessels to.secure,the bonds suggested,
and as the condition is to be that the
obligoIs shall pay 'sany damages which the
arbltrators may adjudge," while the treaty
gives the arbltrators no power TO edjudge
any damages, the transaction would be
without risk to the obligors and of no
value to us.
This government cannot consent to have
what it believes to be its rights destroyed
or impaired pending their determination
by an agreed tribunal, however adequate
the security offered. The reference in my
last note to the Inconsistency of Her Maj
ity for the acts Ofs the Canadian sealerS
was not intended to suggest Willingness
on our part under any circumstances to
see our property converted into claim for
damages, and particularly as such {. claim
cannot now be heard or determined by the
arbltrators without reformation OF the
treaty, for His LordShip must remember
that while he now offers what he mis-
takenly calls security for satisfying
any damages which the arbitrators may
adjudge.' he has already carried his point
in the treaty, that the arbitrator shall have
to His Lordship'S suggts .ol that Canadian
sealers may have some claim for compen-
Sation if Great Britain shall restrain
pelagic sealing, the President directs me to
say that he does not see how the citizens OF
subjects of either of the treaty powers
can, by any rule of law or equity, support
any claim against their respective govern
mentS, growing out of such necessary
trade relations as the government may
lawfully impose to promote the larger con-
ditions OF the public good and information
al peace.
The suggestions that the conclusions of
the board of arbitration may not be
reached and announced in time to govern
the conduct Of the parties during the season
of 1898 is, the President thinks, fully pro
vided against by tine treaty itself. His
Lordship is mistaken as to the time thathas
elapsed since the signing OF the Delagoa
agreement with Portugal. 1t is not four
years old, but less than one, the date Of
signing being June Ii. 1891. If the present
treaty is promptly satisfied and exchanged,
our mutual interest would be an absolute
guaranty against delay. The President
has found no obstacle in the way Of such
90, of oyapnf tho hnliaf H.