The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-08-17
BEHRING SEA DISCUSSION
UNCLE SAM GETS TIE WORST OF THE
CONTROVERSY.
The Commission Decides Five Of Six Points
in Favor Of England and Denies Juris-
dicticn Of the United States Over
the North Pacific.

PARIS, Aug. 15.-The decision OF the
Behring Sea tribunal arbitration was
handed down at 11:07 o'clock this
morning, Five points of article were
decided against the United States. A
closed season is established, to begin
May and to continue until July 81.
This closed season shall be observed
both in the North Pacific ocean and
Behring sea. A protected zone is estab-
lished extending for 60 miles around
the islands. Pelagic sealing is allowed
outside the zone in the Behring sea.
From August / the use of firearms in
sealing is prohibited. The American
arbitrator have expressed their salts
faction with the terms of the decision.
AT o'clock the Behring sea arbitra-
tors held session, and at II reassem-
bled in the room in the foreign office
in which the public session of the
tribunal was held. Baron Decourcel,
president of the tribunal. then deliv-
cred to the agents of the United States
and Great Britain original copies OF
the decision signed by all the arbitra.
tors. Afterward Baron Decourcel adj
dressed the arbitrators, saying that he
recognized the great value of arbitra-
ton as q cause of peace between ma
tions. He expressed his opinion that
every international arbitration rend-
cred war less probable, aud said he
looked forward to time in the near
future when it would be the rule and
not the exception to settle interna-
tional differences in this way. Senator
John l.. Morgan, one of the Ameri-
can arbitrators, and Lord Hahen, one
of the arbitrators appointed by Great
Brit in, responded to Baron Decour-
eel, declaring that they reciprocated
the sentiments expressed by him and
recognized the hospitality extended by
France to the arbitrators. The SEES.
sion terminated amid mutual congrat.
ulations and expressions of good feel
ing.
After preamble stating the case
submitted for decision, the full text OF
the award runs as follows: We de-
eide and determine as to five points
mentioned in article as to which our
award is to embrace distinct decis-
ion upon each of them.
AS to the first of said five points we,
Baron Decourcel, John NJ. Harlan,
Lord Hammer, Sir John s. d. Thomp-
son, Marquis Emilio. Viscount Venos
ia and Gregero w. w. Cram, being a
majority OF said arbitrator, decide as
follows: BY ukase 1891 Russia claim
ed jurisdiction in the sea now known
as Behring sea to the extent of 100
Italian miles from the coast and is
lands belonging 20, her, but in the
course of negotiations which led 70
the conclusion OF the treaty of 1924
with the United States and
the treaty of 1926 with Great
Britain, Russia admitted that her jur-
isdiction In said sea should be restrict
ed so as to reach a cannon shot from
shore. 1t appears that from that time
up to the time of cession OF Alaska to
the United States Russia never assert
ed in fact or exercised any exclusive
jurisdiction in the Behring sea or any
exclusive rights to seal the fisheries
therein beyond the ordinary limit OF
territorial waters.
AS to the second of the five points,
we, Baron Decourcel, John M. Harlan,
Lord Harmon, Sir John s. ID. Thomp-
son, Marquis Emilio, Viscount Venosta
and Geo. w. w. Cram, being major
ity of said arbitratOrs, decide and de-
termine that Great Britain did not
recognize or concede any claim upon
the part of Russia to exclusive juris
diction as to seal fisheries in Behring
sea outside ordinary territorial water.
AS to the third point, as to so much
thereof rs requires us to decide whether
the body of water now known as
Behring Sea was included in the
phrase Pacific ocean" as used in the
treaty of 1925 between Great Britain
and Russia, we unanimously decide to
determine that the body OF water
now known as Behring Sea was in
cluded in the phrase Pacific ocean"
as used In said treaty.
On the fourth point, we decide and
determine that all rights Of Russia TO
jurisdiction and to seal fisheries passed
to the United States, limited by the
accession.
On the fifth point, we decide
and determine that the United
States, have no right to protection OF or
property In the seals frequentlng the
islands of the United States in Behring
Sea when found outside the three mile
limit This last decision is made by
arbitrator, John Il. Morgan, Baron
Decourcel, Marqui. Emilis, Viscount
Tenosta, Gregero w. w. Gram, Lord
Hammer, John M. Harlan and Sir John
Thompson dissenting.
The following regulations were adj
opted by majority OF the arbitrators,