The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-27
THE BERINo SEA ARBITRATION.

to0 pOp0 10 y IOSt CAUSE
THE BERING SEA AKBlTRATION.
The Bering sea arbitrators met at Paris
last Thursday for the hearing of argument.
The American arbitrators are Mr.. Justice
Harlan, Of the supreme court, and Senator
Morgan, of Alabama. The British arbi-
traitors are Lord Justice Hammer and Sir
John Thompson. the premier of Canada,
and the Canadian minister of justice. The
other three members Of the court are NJ.
Gram, of Norway, the Baron de Courcelles.
of France, and viscount Venosta, of Italy.
Five questions are to be passed upon BY
the court. First-"What exclusive juris-
diction in the Boring sea and what exclu.
sive right in the fisheries therein did Rus
sia assert and exercise up to tho time Of
the cession of Alaska to the United
States7" Second-"How far Russia's
claims Of Jurisdiction and of right in the
seal fisheries were recognized by Great
Britain" Tho third question inquiries
whether the expression "Pacifc ocean" in
the treaty Of 1925 between Great Britain and
Russia included the Boring sea. It is not
expected that there will be any difficulty
in convincing the court by historical proof
that it was an exclusive jurisdiction which
Russia claimed and an absolute ownership
in the seal, and that Great Britain and the
United States in inforcing their demands
upon Russia in 1925 gave numerous and
direct evidences that those demands did
not extend north of the Aleutian islands.
This historical issue is not the most i'm.
portant or strongest part OF the American
case; Mr.. Blaine always rested the strength
Of oCr own case not upon the question Of
our right of marine jurisdiction As OBJ
tanned from Russia, but upon the broad
ground Of public equity and International
interest that the whole civilized world
ought to feel in the practical question of
preventing the complete extinction of the
fur seal. Mr.. Blaine. in substance, argued
that 1.-The preservation Of the seal during
their passage twice year through Bering
sea and Pacific ocean ought to be commit
ted exclusively to that nation which owns
their breeding places, and which there, at
great expense. guards them and promotes
their growth: that this nation having the
best right in them should also have an
exclusive right. because they are not q
property capable Of division without the
danger of extinction"
The British government regulates and
controls the pearl fisheries In the open sea
from eight to twenty miles west Of the
northern end of the Island of Ceylon in
the Indian ocean, and this is q case in
point where England has exercised juris-
diction beyond the ordinary limits of ma
rine right Of domain. 1t is an interesting
fact that an agreement is now pending
between Great Britain and Russia for tho
establishment of protective zone around
the Russian seal islands and along the
coasts Of Russian Siberia that touch the
Boring sea. This agreement is probably
sure of ratification. for the Victoria GUS
toms authorities have already been in.
siructed to warn all sailing vessels that
clear for the North Pacific to arrange for
learning the result Of these negotiations
before proceeding TO the neighborhood of
Russian territory. This warning comes
so late, however, that nearly all the Brit
ish Columbia sealing feet had started
upon the seasons cruise before it was
received.
The psodus eipendi agreement OF Grea.
Britain and the United States forced the
seal hunters To transfer their depreciation,
TO the Russian side of Boring sea. where
they last year raided ruthlessly the Rus.
sian seal rookeries both on the is ands and
the main land. Last year the Russian
cruisers seized five seaiers from Victoria.
one from Vancouver and two from San
Francisco. These poaching vessels were
seized some OF them twenty miles or more
away from the Russian islands. Ten Of
the Dominion vessels were seized and con-
hscated. in all having an aggregate value
OF $4,000 exclusive of 1850 skins confis-
Gated on them, and three Domin-
ion zeal poachers escaped with their
catches. Hitherto Grea, Britain ha. sd.
mitted no right Of Russia 10 protect her
seals beyond the three-uile limit. but the
Russian vessels in making their captures
last year exceeded this limit by twenty
miles or more, bat If Great Britain sig,s
this reported m0das sitendi with Russi.
the British Columbia sealers will be in
bad way. The United States. in her anr.
'ety 70 protect her seals. has consented 70
an arbitration. but Russia seems de,er.
mined TO protect her seas in sny event
The action Of Russia viii doubles, h,xa
is natural effect upon inducing Great
Britain. as q matter Of international IN
terest and comfy. TO acknowledge III.
right OF both Russia and the United St,,..
10 protect the fur-bssring seal N III.
waters OF Ber.ng sea.
If the arbi,rators should decide srai,s.
the United States. We shal! be Obliged -
swallow our medicine. bat Russia doe.
not offer 10 submit her right 10 protect her
seas 10 arbitration; she protects them hv
seiEing and conhscating the Dominion
sealeTs. and the proposed waoias sireadi "a
only an anlica5le wsy Of doing IL for The
present with the endorsement OF Gres,
Britain. Great Britain must either en-
dorse the sction OF Russia or proiee. her
Dominion se&lers, and che can only mo-
iecf them by going IN war with Russia.
for Russia never arol.Ta;ss. The PROBABLE.
ity - that Great britain WILL Sceep, the