The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-03-25

" Hi'h
HON. JOHN w. FOSTER
terms of conveyance stipulated that
''the cessions hereby made convey all
the rights, franchise and privileges now
belonging to Russia in the said terri
tory or dominion and ap~purtenances
thereto"
. AS soon as Alaska passed into the
hands Of the American government
Great Britain proceeded to ignore the
provisions of the treaty with Russia,
and her vessels and those of Canada and
British Columbia began a systematic
system of poaching upon the seal rock
erles in the northern Pacific ocean De
spite the most emphatic protests of the
authorities at Washington the British
pirates continued their nefarious prac-
tees until the total determination of
the seal family vas threatened. A
joint commission was finally appointed
to reach q settlement satisfactory TO
both sides. Pending these negotiations
the two governments established a mo-
dus vivendi, which, however, was
evaded by Great Britain when the last
sealing season opened. Lord Salisbury,
! then premier of England, declined to
renew the modus vivendi for another
year, but was called to time by Presi-
dent Harrison who stated that IF her
majesty's government proceeds during
the sealing season upon the basis of its
contention as to the rights of the Cana
dian s~ealers, no choice is left to this
government but to proceed upon the
basis of it's confident contention that
pelagic sealing in the Behring sea is ar
infraction of its jurisdiction and prop.
erty rights"
Thereupon Lord Salisbury agreed to
a renewal of the modus vivendi, making
but one condition, that the nation that
was defeated before the tribunal OF
arbitration should pay to the other
such damages as might be assessed by
the commission as a result of the sus-
pension of sealing. This proposition
met with no opposition from President
Harrison, and a new agreement was
signed which prohibits both British and
American sealers from killing more
than 900 seals on the islands during
the season until the international diff.
culties are finally adjusted.
Should the tribunal find that the
claims of the United States are not
based on good grounds then its mem
bers must decide just what part Great
Britain may take in concurrent legisla
ton for the preservation of the seals
The question of liability for %injurie:
sustained by the United States anC
Great Britain at the hands of thu
other are to be determined by the ar
bitrators as to questions of fact, bu'
the liability upon the facts when found
, is to be made the subject of further
negotiations outside the present tri
, bunal. In addition, if the result o
' the arbitration shall be to affirm thu
right of British ~sealers during the con
!, t~inuance of the existing modus vivend
: to take seals in the Behring sea within
D the bounds claimed by the United
: States under its purchase treaty witt
Russia, compensation must be made b.
the United States to Great Britain TO
the ~latter'S abstinence from the exer
else of her rights pending the arbitra
ton, upon the basis of such a Unite
: catch as in the opinion of the arb
= traitors might have been taken withou
an undue d~iIninution of the seal herds
II, on the contrary, the arbitrator
deny the right of Great Britain to sea
fishing, compensation must be made b
Great Britain to the United States TO
loss sustained by the latter and by it
lessees from the limitation of the cate
of $500 during the closed season.
decision against the United State
would mean an indemnity bill of a
least $500. 900. loss of control of the sea
fisheries in the North Pacific, and a hi
initiation in the eyes of the diplomat
world.
The American commissioners are col
fdent Of success. They claim that the'
arguments and claims are based o
treaties sanctioned and observed fC
many years. When buying Alaska tn
United States became the successor {
Russia and the beneficiary of all treatit
lie in force at the time of the transfe
h. Great Britain will claim that no natio
has the right, inherent or acquired, -,
close an open sea to foreign CONNIE
r and fishing.
W His preforeoce-