New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-03
RUSSIA AND ENGLAND AGREE.
RIGHTS IN BEHRING SEA DEFINED.
Is OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TO BE De
LLVERED TO BRITISH AUTu0RIuLS

LIVERED TO BRITISH AUTHORITIES.
London. June o.-Thc Foreign Office has issued a
blue book which contains the correspondence concern
ing an agreement between Great Britain and Russia
to tlir protection OF Russia sealing interests In
tho North Pacific Ocean Behrlng Among
the contents of the book are: minute Of the Cana
dian Privy Council made last December and for
warded in January by the Governor General com
muncaon by Lord Roscbery, British secretary OF
State for Foreign Affairs, 10 Sir Robert Morlcr. Er
iSh Ambassador to Russia; Sir Roberts following
communication TO Privy Councillor Schischknc. acting
for NJ dc Gicrs rs Russian Minister for Foreign Al
fairs: NJ. Schischline's reply to sir Robert: Lord
Roscbcry's and Sir Robert Moricr's long replies 10 NJ
Schischklnc; the Russian Minister'S rcjondcr; Lord
Rosebcry second repy the draft of an agreement
and the notes exchanged, enbodyng the proposals
while replacing the form OF the agreement.
The original contention OF Russia that her
cruisers should have exclusive right to police tho
seas in question ana to convey British trcspasscrs 10
Petropauovski, port OF Asiatc Russia. where the
cases should b. adjudcated Lord Roscbcry declined
10 agree such proceedings and suggested that the
British vessels caught trespaSsing be- conveyed 10
Yokohama, where the cases should be adJudicated hy
a British consular court. Eventually the Powers
agreed that tIe respassers should b. delivered TO
British cruiser TO tn nearest British authorities
on land Great Britain at the same time undertaking
to bring them speedily to trial
The text OF the agreement submitted 10 Privy
Councillor schischkne on May l.. 1893. is aS fol
lows:
"FirS-During the year ending December 81
1s03 the British Government shall prohibit British
subjects from killing or hunting seals within the fol-
lowing limits: ,al Within OF ton marine miles
following the sinuosilicS OF the Russian coasts which
border Behring Sea and any other part of the North
Pacific Ocean: b) within Of thirty marine
miles round the Hcmandorsky Islands and round the
Robin and TulPnew Islands.
"Sccond-Thc British Government shall cooperate
with British cruisers in preventing British sub
ccts from killing hunting seals within the afcre
said limits.
"Third-rriSh vessels engaged In killing hunt
Ing seals withn the aforesaid limits may be seized
by either Br,i. Russian cruisers, but II seized by
the Letter they shall forthwith be handed over at
Yokohama or at any port British possessions. 10
the commander Of any British warshp, for trial by
the British authorities
"Fourth-The Russian Government engage 10 limit
to 900 the number OF seals that may bc Killed in
whole year Of 1895 upon and around The Islands
OF Komand0rsky and Tulcncw.
Flfth-It Is agreed that British agent may when
desired BY the British Government. visit the iSlinis
confer there with the authorities. and inquire into The
working and results Of the present agreement.
"Sixh-Thc present agreement shah in wise az
feet facilities hitherto accorded AT Russian ports to
British vessels regarding refuge repairs obtaining sup
access.
"Scvcnih-It Is understood that the present agree
ment relates solely 10 the year 1898. 1t has cOnsc-
quently retroactive force eject, more especially
as regards British vessels captured previously by Rus
sian cruisers
schschkine replies on the o2d. accepting the draft
Of the agreement, but expressing preference that
II be- embodied In an exchange Of notes. the drif,
1t stood too conci>cly worried. and therefore
left room for II misunderstanding and perhaps for
moreover. could not agree to the draft without a
few reservations designed 10 safeguard their free
dom Of judgment in the future.
1t Is UNDERSTOOD" he continues, that the agree
nent leaves intact AL rights OF Russia in her ter
roral waters. Our reservations refer. thcn TO The
following points
Ii,j-ln consentns to hand over To the British
authorities English ships sealing In prohIbt'd zones.
we do MT wish To picudlc" generally the quc~ti -
OF the tights OF "A Power to extend It's territorial
properly called territorial.
Sccond-The Russian Government desire Ia pre-
serve complete liberty OF action either ly The method
OF a prohlll,ve zone entirely 10 prohibit In the
future Ielagic sealing or TO regulate 1t In the open
"Third-'rhc present arrangement cannot De con
sdered IN any wise precedent ana Is looked on
by essentially as a provisional arrangement IN
tended 10 meet present circumstances
sChschknc closes his note with an "AW"' ,lon OF
hope that the British Government VIII consider the
understanding rs established hcnc"iorward Tor the
lord Rosebcrry In his reply dated the 2Oth.
states that he viii take immediate steps 10 carry II
into operation Regarding the reservations made hy
the british Government he says That they need not lot
be stated discussed AT present, but 1t may he
mutually understood that the right, ana the POSI-
ton Of each Power remain unaffected by this pro
visiOnal arrangement