The morning call., 1894-04-01
ENGLAND SLOW TO ACT.
Sir Julian Pauncefote Submits a
Plan.
WANTS A MAN ON THE ISLANDS.
And Proposes to Renew the Modus
Vivendi and Pass a Bill
g Next Year.

WASHINGTON, March 81. - Secretary
Gresham has submitted to the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations draft Of
q bill Intended to carry out the decision of
the BeriDg Sea arbi.rators. 1t shows sub
stantial changes from the McCreary bill in
troduced in thu House about two weeks
ago, and makes the changes that have been
made necessary by the developments of
events since that time. The bill prohibits
sealing within zone of sixty miles around
the Prlbyloff Islands, and prohibits sealing
this side of this zone aud including Boring
Sea north of The thirtieth parallel of north
latitude and east of the one hundred and
eightieth degree of longitude between May
land July 81. The use Of steam vessels
in sealing is forbidden. and masters of YES
sells are required to render an Official
statement of seals taken, and penalties are
provided for false sta ements. Nets,
riflec, airguns or torpedGes shall not be
used, but shotguns are allowed.
United States indians not employed by
other persons, and who do not contract
with other persons TO deliver SKINS. are
exempted from the provisions of he act.
Fines of not less than $500, or imprisOn-
ment for not less than six months, or both,
and the confscaIiUns of vessels. cargo,
tackle, etc., are prescribed as the penalties
for violation of this act, aud prosecutions
may be Instituted in any United States
District Court of Alaska. California or
Oregon. or Washington. 1t is made the
duty OF the President to provide for the
enforcement of the act by a sufficient naval
force in the sealing waters.
Any vessel or citizen of the United
States offending against the prohibitions
of this act or the regulations hereunder
may be seized and detained by the naval
or other duly commissioned officers of her
Majesty, the Queen of Great Britain, but
when so seized and detained they shall be
handed over as soon as practicable with
any witness and proof on board to any
naval or revenue officer. or the authorities
of The United States whose courts alone
shall possess jurisdiction to impose the
penalties for the same; provided. however,
that British officers shall arrest and detain
vessels and all such persons as in this sec
ton specified only after, by appropriate
legislation. Great Britain shall have au-
thorized officers of the United States duly
commissioned and instructed by the Presi-
dent to that end to arrest, detain and hand
over to the authorities of Great Britain
vessels and subjects of that Government
offenders against any statutes or regula-
tions Of Great Britain enacted or made TO
enforce the awards of the treaty men
toned in the title of the act.
Although the submission of the bill
would seem to indicate an understanding
that the" British authorities are ready TO
mako their own measure conform to the
American plan, lit appears that there are
yet STUN bling blocks in the way. These
are probably due to the urgent remoL-
strances OF the Canadian sealers, and have
had the effect of causing the British Gov
eminent to doubt its ability to secure the
passage Of its bil.in time to be of service
for this season.
Sir Julian Pauncefote has again come
forward with proposition to renew the
modus 9vivendi for this year. promising
that in case this is done the British act
will be passed in time to- go into operation
next year. He also. requests permission
to station British Commissioner at the
Seal Islands to see tbat.tbe catch does not
exceed the maximum Of 1900 skins. If
this is accepted it is believed the closed
zone will extend down to the forty-second
parallel at the northern boundary of Cali
fornia. So far as can be learned 40 cause
is assigned for the failure to pass the bill
this season, and the fate of Sir Julian's
last ropositien is extremely doubtful
LONDON, March 31.-As the result of
further exchange of views between Lon
don and Washington, the Attorney-Gen-
eral has Withdrawn the Boring Sea bill
which he introduced in the Commons on
Thursday. The. bill. with notifications.
will be rentroduced next Thursday.