The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-08-18
IT PROTECTS THE SEALS
The Main Point of the Seh-inC
Sea Decision.
NO EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FOR uo
A Close Season Established md various
Safeguards ProVided--The Result Gen
: orally Satisfactory to Both the United
States and Great Britain. - -

orally Satisfactory to Both the United
States and Great Britain. - -
WASHINGTON, Aug. l6-The Dehtins
Sea decision, handed down yesterday by
the Tribunal of Arbitration at Paris, Is
generally satisfactory Telegrsms from
Paris and London report the concensus Of
opinion among the American agents and
counsel TO be that, though technical sue
cess rests with Great Britain on legal
points, on practical grounds the victory Is
to the United States, a. the arbitration
was entered upon to preserve the seals,
and the decision achieves that result The
herd of seals is to 30 protected from the
sealers while breeding By the establishment
Of a close season from May to July 81.
This close season shall be observed in the
Northern Pacific as well as in the Be1ring
Sea This protects the seals in their pas
sage from the winter quarters across the
ocean to their breeding grounds, the Priby-
ioff Islands This decision is against the
earnest contention OF Sir Charles Russell,
the counsel for Great Britain, who held
that the Northern Pacific must he free
grounds a; all seasons for these sealers.
Poaching il tie dsep seI must cease, as
the use Of firearms In sealing is prohibited.
1t is imprac;icable to engage in sealing,
except in small way, without the use Of
buckshot.
The finding Of the tribunal on the five
points Of Article VI. Of the treaty OF ls92
is against the United States. This article
covered the claims to exclusive rights in
the Behring Sea as obtained by the United
States in it, Russian purchase. The seal
ing restrictions established by the tribunal
are sufficiently severe TO more than COM
pensate for this point.
The treaty under which the Tribunal of
Arbitration was appointed recites that the
governments OF the United States and
Great Britain, being desirous to provide
for an amicable settlement OF the ques-
tions which had arisen between them con-
cerning the jurisdictional rights OF the
United States in the waters OF Behring Sea
and concerning also the preservation OF the
fur seal in or habitually resorting to the
said sea andthe rights Of the citizens and
subjects Of either country as regards the
taking Of fur seals, agreed to submit the
questions to a tribunal Of arbitration to be
composed Of seven arbitrators, two named
by Great Britsin, two by the United
States, one by France. one by Italy. and
one by Sweden and Norway.
The arbitrators selected were:-
By the United States. Justice John n.
Harlan and Senator John I. Morgan.
By Great Britain. Lord Hannen and
Sir S. D. Thompson.
By France. Baron De Courcel, who was
subsequently chosen President Of the tri-
bunal
By Italy. Marquis Bailio visconti-ye-
posta.
By Sweden and Norway. Judge Gram
Articles II, III, ", and V, of the treaty
provided for the meeting place OF the ar
bitrators, and for other matters in regard
to procedure. etc.
Article VI was worded as follows:-
I'm deciding the matters submitted TO
the arbitrators, it is agreed that the folio w
ing five points shall be submitted TO them,
in order that their award shall embrace a
distinct decision upon each of said five
points, TO wit
81. What exclusive jurisdiction in the
sea known now as the Behring Sea, and
what exclusive rights in the seal fisheries
therein, did Russia assert and exercise
prior and up 10 the time Of the cession Of
Alaska to the United Statesi
80. How far were those claims of juris-
diction as to the seal fisheries recosnized
and conceded by Great Britain,
''3 Was the body OF water now known
as the Behring Sea included in the phrase
Pacific ocean, as used in the Treaty o:
1925 between Great Britain and Russia.
ard what rights, If any, in the BeErin.;
Sea, were held and exclusively exercised by
Russia by said Treaty.
"a all tha - 1fD
jurisdiction and as to ths sesl fisheries IN
Behring Sea east Of the wasf boundary, in
the Treaty between the United States and
Russia of March 80, 1857, pass unimpairea
to the United States in that Treaty.
IS. Has the United States any right.
and, II so, what right. Of protection ~
property In the tur-seals freQusntiux t.-
islands OF the United States in Behrins
Sea when such seals are found outside t..e
ordinary three mile limit"
Article referred TO the liability OF e4ci
government for the injuries alleged to hav.
been sustained BY the other, or its oitiz-a..
in connection with the claims presented
and urged by it.
Article TX provides for the appointment.
Of four commissioners, two American AN.
two British, TO examine into and report o.i
the question OF damages,
Article y, Al, Ali, XII, relate To the
payment Of the expenses OF the tribuna..
and to the time in which decision shall
b rendered
Article XIV reads as follows: "rhe
high contracting parties engage TO e,l.
slider the result Of the procssdinss of Gee
Tribunal OF Arbitration as full. perfect AIN.
final senttlsment sf all Questions referred
TO the srbitrators."
Article XIV relates to the ratification OF
the treaty.