Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-04
BEM- -wEDN DECEMBER 4,

II was fitting that this extraordinary achieve
ment Of the newer German nationality should
! be celebrated in the presence OF America 9
| exposition Of the latest developmuts OF the
worlds naval energy.
JANGLEs WITH JOHN BULL
Our relations with Great Britain always in
| innate and important, have demanded during
! the past year even greater share OF con-
sideration than Is usual. Several vexatious
| questions were left undetermined by the de-
cision OF the Berlng sea arbitration tribunal.
! The application of the principles laid down by
! that august body has not been followed by the
results they were intended to accomplish,
| either because the principles themselves lacked
| in breadth and defniteness, or because their
| execution has been more or less imperfect.
| Much correspondence has been exchanged be-
| tween the two governments on the subject OF
preventing the eXterminating slaughter Of
| seals. The inSufiiciency of British patrol Of
| Bsring sea. under the regulations agreed
on by the two governments has been pointed
| out, and yet only two British ships have
| been on police duty during this season In
| those waters. The need of a more effective
enforcement OF existing regulations, as well
as the adoption OF such addi-
tional regulations as experience has
shown to be absolutely necessary
| to carry out the intent of the awards, have
| been earnestly urged upon the British gov
] ernment, but thus far without effective re-
| suits In the meantime the depletion OF the
| seal herds by means OF pelagic hunting has
| so aarmingly progressed that unless their
slaughter is at once effectively checked their
| extinction within few years seems to be
| matter Of absolute certainty.
The understanding by which the United
States was to pay, and Great Britain to re-
ceive, lump sum of Si25,000 in full settle
| ment of all British claims for damages aris-
| ing from seizure of British sealing ves-
| sels unauthorized under the award of the
| Paris tribunal Of arbitration. was not con-
| frmed by the last congress, which declined to
make the necessary appropriation. | am
| still of the opinion that this arrangement was
a judiclous and advantageous for
recommend that 1t be again con-
sdsred and sanctioned. If, however, this does
| not meet with the favor Of congress, 1t GER
| tainly will hardly dissent from the PROPOSE
tion that the government Is bound by every
consideration Of honor and good faith to pro-
vide for the speedy adjustment OF these
claims by arbitration as the only other alter
native. treaty of arbitration has therefore
been agreed upon, and will be Immediately
laid before the senate, so that in one of the
modes suggested final settlement may be
reached.
Notwithstanding that Great Britain orig
| mated the proposal to enforce international
rules for the prevention of collisions at sea,
based on the recommendations of the mari
time conference of Washing on, and concurred
in, suggesting March l. 1895, as the date to
be set by proclamation for carrying these
rules into general effect, her majesty's govern
ment having encountered opposition on the
part of British shipping interests, announced
its inability to accept that date, which was con-
sequently cancelled The entire matter is
still in abeyance, without prospect of better
condition in the near future.
SOME BOUNDARY DISPUTES.
The commissioners appointed to mark the
international boundary in Passamaquody bay,
according to the description of the treaty OF
Client, have not yet fully agreed.
The completion of the preliminary survey
Of that Alaskan boundary, which follows the
contour of the coast from the southernmost
point of Prince of Wales island until it
strikes the 141st meridian at or
near the summit of Mount st. Elias,
awaits further necessary appropriations,
which are urgently recommended. This sur
vey was undertaken under the provisions of
the convention entered into by this country
and Great Britain, July 22 1892, and the
1894
As to the remaining section of the Alaskan
boundary, which follows the 141st meridian
northwardly from Mount st. Elias to the
frozen ocean, the settlement of which in
wolves the physical location of the meridian
mentioned, no conventional agreement has
yet been made. The ascartanment of
given meridian at a particular point is
work requiring much time and careful OBJ
| and surveys were undertaken by the United
States coast and geodetic survey in 1890
and 1891. while similar work in the same
quarters under British auspices is believed
to give neatly coincident results, but these
surveys have been Independently conducted
and no international agreement to mark those
or any other parts of the 141st meridian by
permanent monuments has yet been made.
In the meantime the valley of the Yukon is
becoming highway through the hitherto un-
explored wilds OF Alaska, and abundant min
eral wealth has been discovered in that re-
gion, especially at or near the junction of the
boundary meridian with the Yukon and its
tributaries. In these circumstances it is eX-
pedient, indeed, imperative. that the jurisdic-
tional limits of the respective governments
in this new region be speedily determined.
Her Britannia majesty's gOvernm mt has pro-
| posed joint delmitaton of the 141st meri-
dian by an international commission of ex-
perts, which, if congress will authorize it and
make due provisions therefor can be ac-
| complished with no unreasonable delay. 1t
| is impossible to overlook the vital importance
of continuing The work already entered upon
and suppem. .ntinog 1t by further effective
measures locking to the exact location of
this entire boundary line.
| call attention to the unsatisfactory de-
lmita ion of the respective jurisdictions OF
the United States and the Dominion OF
Canada in the great lakes at the approachea
to the narrow waters that connect them.
The waters in question are frequented by fish
ermen of both nationalites and their nets
arc there ussd. Owing to the uncertainty
and ignorance as to the true boundary veXa-
tious disputes and injurious seizures of boats
and nets by Canadian cruisers often occur
while any positive settlement thereof by an
accepted standard Is not easily to be reached
A joint commission to determine the line in
those quarters practical basis, by meas
ured courses following range marks on shore,
is necessity for which immediate provi-
sion should be made.
IDI,IN ID "