The herald., 1893-06-03
BER|NG SEA BLUE BOOK
The British Foreign Offices
Outgiyings.
How Russia's Sealing Interests
Are Protected.
The Agreement Between Great Brit
ain and Russia.
Exhaustive Arguments Before the Ber.
ing Sea Court of Arbitration-No
Prospect of an Early
Decision.

By the Associated Press1
LONDON, June 2.-The foreign Office
has issued a blue book which contains
the correspondence concerning the
agreement between Great Britain and
Russia as to the protection OF Russia's
sealing interest in the North Pacific
ocean and the Bering sea. The original
contention of Russia was that her cruis-
ers should have the exclusive right to
police the seas in question, and convey
British treapassers to Ptropaulovsky,
where the cases should be sdjudicated.
Lord Rosebery declined to agree to such
proceedings, and suggested that British
vessels caught trespassing be conveyed
to Yokohoma, where the cases should
be adjudicated by the British consular
court. Eventually the powers agreed
that trespassers should be delivered to
British cruiser or to the nearest Brit
ish authority on land, Great Britain at
the same time undertaking to bring
them speedily to trial.
Among the contents of the books Is
the text of an agreement submitted to
Privy Councillor Schichkine, May 18th
last. 1t provides that during the year
ending December 3lst next, British sub
jects be prohibited from killing or hunt
ing seals within the following limits:
(a) Within zone of 10 marine miles
following the sinuosities of the Russian
coasts which border the Bering sea-. and
any other part of the North Pacific
ocean.
(b) Without zone of go marine miles
| foIo and
round the Robin islands and Tulinew.
British vessels poaching in said limit
may be seized by either British or Rus
sian cruisers, but if seized by the latter
shall be handed over as announced
above.
\ INIT 70 zU,U0U the n0mbsr of M seals ;fs' 70 81
killed in 1898, upon and around the
islands of Komandorsky and Tulinew.
Schichkine, in accepting the agreement,
said it was with the distinct understand
ing that it leaves intact all the right OF
Russia in her territorial waters.
Rosebery, in reply, said it may be mu-
tually understood that the rights and
position of each power remain unaffected
by this provisional agreement.
BERING SEA ARBITRATION,
PARIS, June 2.-Sir Richard Webster
continued his argument today before the
Bering sea tribunal of arbitration, in
behalf Of the British case. He pointed
out that the exclusion of seals by Sena-
tor Sumner, who had charge in the
United States of the measure for the
acquisition of Alaska, from the descrip-
ton of Alaskan products, refuted the
assertion that the value of seals induced
tine United States to pay $1,000, 900 for
Alaska. Sir Richard quoted from de-
bates in congress on the purchase of
Alaska to show that no importance was
then attached to seals or to the exclu-
sive jurisdiction obtained in the Bering
| sea.
.sNo EARLY TERMINATION.
WASHINGTON, June 2.--Unofficial ad-
vices from members Of the American
commission at Paris in connection with
the Bering sea arbitration do not give
any hope OF an early termination of the
present proceedings. Besides Sir Charles
Russell, Great Britain will present four
other attorneys. After they have fin
ished E. J. Phelps and H. W. Blodgett
of the counsel for the United States are
still to be heard. After their arguments
are concluded the arbitrators have three
months in which to render a decision.
1t is hoped that the final result will be
reached by the 1st of October, at which
time the modus vivendi expires by the
terms of the treaty OF arbitration.