Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-21
cRnsnAMs REPORT.
He Tells the Horsc Why That Eng
fish Claim Was Paid.

Washington, Dec. 20-Scvretary
Gresham to-day sent to tao house IN
answer 20 a resolution calling FOR an
explanation OF his reasons arrang-
Ing with Great Britain the Payment
OF the scaling chains OF British scaling
vessels, the following letter;
To the Honorable. TIM speaker OF the
House OF Representatives:
The undersigned Is directed by the
president 10 respond to the resolution
adopted by your honorable body on the
18th inst, requesting the secretary OF
state 10 communicate 70 IN house or
representatives II not inc nssteut VITA
The interests of the public service. all
correspondence, reports ana other docu-
ments not heretofore made puhlic.
touching the payment by the United
states OF Si2500O 10 Great Britain FOR
damages growing out % the cuntrovcr-
~ as TO fur seals IN Bohring sen, or
the seizure Of British vessels in taking
seals In these waters. Tia I'm ers gn-
ed accordingly has the honor t. COM
municate 70 the house q representa-
iives copies of the correspondence ox-
changed on the subject covered hy the
resolution, in which will be found n
statement Of the claims nlled by Great
Britain Tor damages 81 1tAincd by Brit
ish subjects, by reason OF the seizure
OF their seal ng vessels In Bearing set
or of being warned 10 cease operations
therein.
The Paris tribunal OF arbitration he'd
that the United states had no right OF
Profession Of property In the fur seal
In the Behrlng SEA outside the ordinary
three mile limit
Article OF the convention OF Feb
ruary 2sth, 1902, VIII reby the quesiions
which have arisen be.wean the two
governments conserving the 1urisd eli n
al rights OF the United Sta,os in the
| waters OF The l3ehrng sea, were sub
United TO arbitration, recited that thu
hign contracting plrtlcs had been UNI
able TO agree upon a reference which
would include the question OF the lla-
biltty OF each for the injuries alleged
TO have bcon sustained by the other.
or by Its citizens IN connection with the
claims printed and urged by Il, and
that being aIllcitous that this subordi-
nate question should not interrupt or
! longer delay the submission and deter
! minatlon Of the main questions they
| have agreed THAI either may submit TO
| their aibitrators amy question OF IA {
| involved IN said claims and ask for
u finding thereon.
Under this article the arbltrators
unanimously found that number OF
| British sealing vessels were seized In
! Behring sen or warned thereffom by
| cruisers of the United States on the
\ days and at the places mentioned, lenv-
ing no further mention OF the question
as to whether the vessels mentioned in
| the schedules OF the British case or any
| OF them were wholly or I'm part the
actual property Of citizens OF the Unit
ed States.
II the plan OF settlement recommend
4 ed by the president in his annual mes
+ sage Is not acceptable to congress, the
] remaining nj r1tsaftgA
be determined either by the organizn-
] tion OF Joint commission or by nego-
! tiations between the two governments
Experience has shown that lnterna-
| tional commissions are slow and eXpen-
1 sive. Should such course he resorted
/ IL, the evidence would be found mostly
] on the Pacific coast, widely scattered,
/ and counsel win be needed 10 examine
| and eross-examine witnesses. The ques-
! ton OF indirect or consequential dam
4 axe having been Withdrawn from the
| tribunal OF arbitration, the pending
claims are, first. British vessels actual
| ly seized IN Behrlng sea or warned out
OF It by cruisers Of The United States.
I II Will appear from the submitted corr
respondencc that the agreement to pay
lump sum OF $4,000 IN full settle
ment OF all demands authorized 10 he
i made under the treaty and award was
proposed by this government The
amount Il considerably below the dam
ages claimed by Great Britain. cxclu-
give OF Interest for number of years
II this arrangement should not receive
| the approval Of congress, and the Dis
puted questions are submitted 70 an
| that the amounts allowed and the ex-
that teh amounts allowed and the ex-
pense Of the tribunal, Including wilt
nesses and the taking Of their tertimo-
nv. will largely exceed Hea 900. In
View OF MI the facts and what may be
reasonably expected as the result OF a
tint prompt and final settlement Of
me vevatIous controversy by an APP
nronriafion Of the lump sum agreed
upon Is advisable.
Respectfully submitted.
W. @. GRESHAM.
Department OF State. Washington, ID.
G.. December 10. 1884.