The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-12-06
TROUBLES OVER BEHRING SEA
The President Recommends Payment of
the British Claim.

The President Recommends Payment of
the British Claim.
Our relations with Great Britain, al
ways intimatelyimportant have demanded
during the past year even a greater share
of consideration than is usual. Several
yexatious questions were left undecided
by the decision of the Behring sea arbitra-
ton tribunal. The application of the
principles laid down by that august body
have not been followed by the results
they were intended to accomplish, either
because the principles themselves lacked
in breadth and definiteness or because
their execution has been more or less i'm
perfect. Much correspondence has been
exchanged between the two governments
on the subject of preventing the exter-
minating slaughter of seals.
Better Patrol Needed.
The insufficiency of the British patrol
of Behring 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
additional regulations as experience has
SuOWh w DC dpSOIuUCly uCSOoooIy W Soily
out the intent of the award have been
earnestly urged upon the British govern
ment but thus far without effective re-
suits. In the meantime the depletion of
the seal hurds by means of pelagic hunt
ing has so alarmingly progressed that I'M
less their slaughter is at once effectively
checked their extinction within a few
years seems to be a matter of absolute
certainly.
Recommends Payment of Claims.
The understanding by which the United
States was to pay and Great Britain to re-
ceive lump sum of $425, 900 in full settle
ment of all British claims for damages
arising from our seizure of British sealing
vessels, unauthorized under the award of
the Paris tribunal of arbitration, was not
confirmed by the last congress, which de-
clined to make the necessary appropria-
ton. am still Of the opinion that this
arrangement was judicious and adj
vantageous one for the government and
earnestly recommend that it be again con
sidered and sanctioned. If, however, this
does not meet with the favor of congress
it certainly will hardly dissent from the
proposition that the government is bound
by every consideration of honor and good
faith to provide for the speedy adjustment
of these claims by arbitration as the only
other alternative.
The Alaskan Boundary.
The completion of the preliminary sur
vey of that Alaskan boundary which fol-
lows the contour of the coast from the
southernmost point of Prince of Wales
island until it strikes the one hundred and
forty-frst meridian at or near the summit
of Mt. Saint Elias, awaits further neces-
sary appropriations which is urgently
recommended. This survey was taken
under the provisions of the convention
entered into by this country and Great
Britain on July 20. 1892 and the supple
mentary convention of Feb. 5, 1894
As to the remaining section of the Alas
kan boundary which follows the one
hundred and forty-frst meridian north
wardly from Mt Saint Elias to the frozen
ocean the settlement of which involves
the physical location of the meridian
mentioned, no conditional agreement has
vet been made.