The advocate., 1895-12-11

Prussia. 1t Is not to be forgotten that inter
national trade cannot be one sided It's cur
rents are alternating and It's movements should
be honestly reciprocal
Our relations with Great Britain. always
intimate and important, have demanded, dur
ing the past year, even greater share Of con-
sideration than Is usual Several vexatiOus
questions were left undetermined by the de-
cision Of the Behr1ng 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 dehniteness or because
their execution has been more or less imper-
feet Much correspondence has been exchanged
between the two governments on the subject Of
preventing the externlnatipg slaughter oEseal8
The insuflciency Of the British patrol Of the
Behring sea under the regulations agreed on
by the two governments has been pointed out
and only two British ships have done police
duty during this season In these waters. The
need OF a more effective enforcement Of exist
ing regulations, as well as the adoption Of such
additional regulations as experience has shown
TO be absolutely necessary to carry out the In
tent Of the award, have been earnestly urged
upon the British government, but thus far
without effective results. In the mean time
the depletion of the seal herds by means Of
pelaglC hunting has so alarmingly progressed
that unless their slaughter Is at once effectively
checked their extinction within q few years
seems to be matter Of absolute certainty.
The understanding by which the United States
was to pay and Great Britain to receive lump
sum Of S425 600 in full settlement 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-
cllned to make the necessary appropriation.
am still OF the opinion that thlsEarrangemen
was judicious and advantageous one for the
government, and earnestly recommend that
It be again considered and sanctioned If,
however, this does not meet with the favor OF
congress, 1t 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 alter
native A treaty of arbitration has, therefore,
been agreed upon and will be Immediately laid
before the senate.
The completion OF the preliminary survey Of
that Alaskan boundary which follows the con-
tour Of the coast from the s0uthernmost point
Of Prince OF Wales island until 1t strikes the
Hist meridian at or near the summit OF Mount
St Elias awaits further necessary Rppropria-
tiOn which Is urgently recommended This
survey was undertaken under provisions Of the
convention entered into by this country and
Great Britain July %, 1892, and the supple
mentary convention of February 8, 1894
As to the remaining section Of the Alaskan
boundary, which follows the l4lst meridian
northWardly from Mount St Elias to the frozen
ocean the settlement Of which involves the
physical location Of the meridian mentioned,
~ anti hoo ryokh haa
call attention to the unsatisfactory dellne-
alton Of the respective jurisdictions Of the
United Stat es and the Dominion of Canada
in the great lakes at the approaches TO the
narrow waters that connect them Thewaters
In question are freQuented by fishermen Of
both natlonalities and their nets are there
used. Owing to the uncertainty and ignorance
as to the true boundary ,vexatious disputeSand
injurious seizures Of boats and nets by Cana
dian cruisers often occur, while any positive
settlement thereof by an accepted standard Is
not easy to be reached.
It being appar emit that the boundary dispute
between Great Britain and the republic Of
Venezuela, conc erning the limits Of British
Guiana was approaching an acute stage, q
definite statement OF the interest and policy Of
the United Sta tes as regards the controversy
seemed to be required, both on its own ac-
count and in view Of its relations with the
friendly powers directly concerned. In July
last, therefore, dispatch was ad-
dressed to our ambassador at London
for communication to the British government
In which the attitude Of the United States was
! fully and distinctly set forth The general
conclusions there reached and formulated are
| In substance. that the traditional and estab-
| lished policy Of this government Is firmly OPP
posed to q forcible increase by any European
power OF its territorial possessions on this
continents that this policy is as well founded
in principle as it Is strongly supported by nu-
| merous precedents; that as a consequence the
UnitedStates is bound to protest against the en-
largement OF the area Of British Guiana in dero-
| CATION Of the rights and against the will Of
| Unpa,uafo. thak nonsfdarin0 tina dienaritv IN