The record-union., 1894-12-21
Secretary Gresham Replies to a
House Resolution.
GIVES HIS REASONS FOR ARRANG-
ING FOR THEIR PAYMENT.
The Agreement to Pay Lump sum of
S425, 900, in Full settlement of
Claims for Seizures of Vessels, a
Proposal Made by This Govern
ment. the Amount Being Below the
Dal--age Claimed by Great Britain.
Special to the REcoRD-US1oS.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20. Secretary Gres-
ham to-day sent TO the Senate, in answer
to resolution calling for an explanation
of his reasons for arranging with Great
Britain for the payment of claims of
British sealing vessels, the following
letter:
To tie Honorable, the Speaker Of the
House OF Representatives: The under
signed is directed by the President 10 re-
spond to the resolution adopted by your
honorable body on the 10Th inst request
ing the Secretary OF State to communi-
cate to the House of Representatives, If
not inconsistent with the interests of the
public service, all correspondence. re-
ports and other documents not heretofore
made public, touching the payment by
the United States of S425,O 900 to Great
Britain for damages growing out of the
controversy as TO fur seals i'll Behring
Sea or the seizure of British vessels en-
gagged III taking seals i'll those waters.
The undersigned accordingly has the
honor to communicate to the House of
Representatives copies of the corresDo
dence exchanged on the subject covered
by the resolution, IN which Will be found
a statement of the claims filed by Great
Britain for damages sustained by British
subjects by reason of the seizure OF their
sealing vessels in Behring Sea or being
warned TO cease operations therein.
The Paris tribunal OF arbitration held
that the United States had no right of
protection of property in the fur seals in
Behring Sea outside the ordinary three
mile limit. Article s OF the convention
of February %, 1892, whereby questions
have arisen between the two Govern
ments concerning the jurisdictional
rights of the United States III the waters
OF Behring Sea were submitted to arbi-
tration, recited that the high contracting
parties had been unable to agree upon
reference which would include the ques-
ton OF the liability of each Tor the lnjur-
les alleged to have been sustained by the
other, by its citizens, i'll connection
with the claims presented and urged by
1t. and being solicitous that this subordi-
nate question should not interrupC or
longer delay the submission and deter
mlnatlon of the main questions, they
have agreed that either may submit TO
arDltraiors any question OF fact involved
IN said claims and ask for finding
thereon, the question OF the liability OF
either Government upon the facts found
TO be the subject OF further negotiation.
Under this article the arbitratOrs unaui-
mously found that a number of British
sealing vessels were seized on the Behr
ring Sea or warned theretrom by cruisers
OF The United States on the days and at
the places III the special hndlngs men,
toned, leaving for further deternina-
ton the questions of the value OF the said
vessels, or their contents, or either of
them, and the question as to whether the
vessels mentioned in the schedule TO the
British case, or any OF them, were wholly
or In part the actual property of citizens
of the United States.
If the plan of settlement recommended
by the President in his annual message is
not acceptable to Congress, the remain
Ing controverted questions must be de-
termlned either by the organization of a
joint commission or by negotiations be-
tween the two Governments. Expert
ence has shown that international Com
mlssloners are slow and expensive.
Should such course be resorted to, the
evidence would be found mostly on the
Pacific Coast widely scattered, and coun-
sci would be needed to examine and
cross-examine witnesses.
The question of indirect or conseuuen-
tial damages having been Withdrawn
from the tribunal OF arbitration, the pend
Ing claims are Tor British vessels actually
seized in Behring Sea or warned out of it
by cruisers of the United States. 1t will
appear from the submitted correspond
ence that the agreement to pay a lump
sum of S425, 900 in full settlement was pro-
posed by this Government The amount
is considerably below the damage claimed
by Great Britain, exclusive of interest for
number of years. If this arrangement
does not receive the approval of Congress,
and the disputed questions are submit
ted to an international commission, it is
believed that the amounts allowed and
the expenses of the tribunal, including
witnesses and the taking of their testi-
mony, will largely exceed S425, 900.
In view of all the facts and what may
be reasonably expected as the result of
commission, the undersigned submits
that prompt and final settlement OF the
vexatious controversy by an appropria-
ton of the lump sum agreed upon is ad-
visable. Respectfully submitted,
W. q. GRESHAM,
Department of State, Washington, d. c.,
December 20, 1894.