New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-21

EXPLANATION or HIS BARGAIN WITH
CANADIAN SEAI.ERs

CHEESEMAN'S EXPLANATION OF HIS BARGAIN WITH
CANADIAN sEALERs
Washington, Dec. 2O.-Secretary Gresham TINS
afternoon furnished TO the House Of Representa-
ives full information touching the payment By the
United states 10 Great Britain OF $4,000 for dam
oses growing out OF the Behrng Sea controversy.
In transmitting the papers TO the Speaker Secre-
tarv Gresham makes the following explanation
OF the matter.
The Paris Tribunal Of Arbitration held that the
erty in the fur seals IN 'ehrng sea OUTSIDE , h
ordinary three mile limit Article III OF the
lions which had arisen between the TWO Govern
ments concerning the jurisdictloual rights Of the
submitted 10 arbitration. recited that the high
contracting parties had been unable to ACRE upon
a reference which would incude the question
of the liability OF each for the injuries alleged TO
have been sustained by the other or by us CIV,
urged by II. and that. being socitous that this
subordnae question should not iniSrrupe or 9"sSs
main questions. they had aerecd TIM, clther
faai involved in said claims and ask cor "A finding
thereon, the question OF the liability OF either Gov,
eminent upon ne facts round TO be Inc ""p'e''
Under this article the arbitraiors unanimously
found that number OF British scaling vessels
seized IN Behring Sea or warned therefrom
by cruisers OF the United states on the days and
al the places In the special finding mentioned
leaving for future determination the questions
20 the value of the said vessels or their con
tents either OF them. and the question az TO
whether the vessels mentioned IN the schedule TO
the British OF them were WhoHy or III
part the actual property or citizens or the United
States.
If the plan OF settlement recommended by the
President In his last annual message II not ac-
ceptabe 10 Congress the remaining controVcrted
questions must be determined either by the orga-
nization or a joint commission. or by negotiations
between the two Governments. Experience has
shown that international commissions are slow and
expensive. should such course be resoried 10. the
evidence would be found mostly the Pacific
coast widely scattered and counsel would be needed
TO examine and cross-eXaminc witnesses.
The question Of Indirect or consequential damages
having been Withdrawn from the Tribunal OF Arbi-
tration, the pending claims arc for British vessels
actually seized IN Behrlne Sea Or wdrnei out OF II
by cruisers OF tho United States. 1t Will appear
from the submitted correspondence that the sEree
ment pay lump sum OF $4,000 in :nil settle
m,nt Of all demands authorized To be made under
the treaty and award was proposed BY ths Gov
eminent. The amount Is considerably below the
damages claimed by Great Britain exclusive OF In
terest for a number Of years. II mis- agreement
does not receive the approval OF Congress and the
clsputed questions submitted TO an irternaions
commission II H. believed that the amounts allowed
and the expense OF the tribunal Including wit
nesses and taking OF their testimony, Viii largely
exceed Si2j 90. Ia view OF all the facts and what
may he reasonably expected the result OF a
commission the undersigned submits that promp,
and Hnal settlement OF the vexqtiony controversy