The herald., 1895-12-04

lowed BY the results they were INTENDED
to soconi plish, either because the prlnci
pies themselves lacked in breadth and
l-dsh nitansss, or because their execution
has been more or less- imperfect. Muct
correspondence has been exchanged be-
tween the two governments on the sub
ject OF preventing the exterminatins
slaughter of seals. The insu flicIency Of
the British patrol of the Boring sea. I'M
der 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 Ola more eff 'ctive en-
tforcsment OF existing regulations, as well
I ms the adoption Of sucn audit ional resu.
lations as experiences mas shown to be
absolutely necessary to carfv out the
/, intent Of the awards. hae been earnestly
| urged uponthe British government, but
this far without effect. In the meant m {
the depletion of seal herds by means OF
pelaeic hunting has 30 alarmingly pro.
crossed that unless their slaughter is at
| once effectively checked their extinction
within a few years seems to be matter
! OF absolute certainty.
The understanding by which the
U United states was 10 pay and Great BRIT
ain to receive lump sum Of SIPS, 900, in
full settlement of ALI British clai'E for
! damages arising from our seizure OF Brit
ish seal,ng vessels Unauthorized under
the award of the Paris tribunal Of arbi
| tration, was not confirmed by the last
congress, which declined to make the
necessary appropriation. am Still OF the
| opinion that this arrangement was ju-
dicious and advantageous one for the
| government, and l earnestly recommend
| that it be again cols dered AMI sane
toned. If, however, tn does not meet
| with the favor OF congress, it certainly
will hardly dissent from the proposition
| that ths 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 treaty of aroitra-
| tion has therefore been agreed upon and
| will be Immediately laid before the sem
ate. so that in one of the modes sug-
gested a final settlement may be reached.
Notwithstanding that Great Britain
originated the proposal for International
rules for the prevention of collisions at
sea, based on the recon- menda' ions of
the maritime conference OF Washington,
and CONQUERED in the suggestion that
March 1, 1895, be adopted as tbs date to
be set by proclamation for carrying these
rules into general effect, her majesty $
government, having encountered opposi
ton on the part OF Br' fish shipping in
terests, announced its inability to accept
that date, and the ACRE sment was conss-
q1ently cancelled. The entire matter Is
st ii in allegiance, without prospect OF =
better condition in the near future.
The ALASKAN BOUNDARY.
The com M issioners appointed to mark
the national boundary in Passamaquoddy
bav. according to the description of the
treaty of Client nave not fully asreed.
The com pletion of the preliminary sur
vey of that Alaskan boundary which fol-
lows the contour OF the -toast from the
southrrnmost point of Prince of Wales
island until il strikes the 14lst meridian
at or near the summit of Maust st. Elias,
awaits rurther necessary appropriation,
which is urgently recommended. This
survey was undertaken under the provls-
ions OF the convention entered into by
this country and Great Britain July %.
1892 ana the supplementary convention
OF fepruary 3, 1894. AS to the remaining
sect on of the Alaskan boundary. which
follows the 14lst meridian no thwardly
from Mount ST. Elias to the frozen ocean,
the settlement of which involves the
physical location of the meridian men,
toned, no conventional agreement has
yet been male.
The ascertainment OF n given meridian
at particular point Is wtrk 'equirlng
much time and careful observation and
surveys. Such observation and surveys
were undertaken b. the United States
coast and geodetic survey i'll 1sJo and
1891, while 81 milar work in the same
quarters under British Ispices are be-
lieved to give nearly coincldent results,
bus these surveys have been depen.
IDENTITY conducted ana no internatiu lal
agreement to mark these or any other
parts { the one hundred and forty-trst
meridian by permanent monuments has
vet been made. In the meantime the
valley of the Yukon is becoming high
way tbr ugh the hisherto nnexpicred wilds
of Alaska, and abundant min raj wealth
has been discovered in that res ion. especi-
ally at or near the junction OF the bound-
airy meridian with the Yukon and II trib-
utaries. In these circumstances Ii Is en-
pedient. indeed IMPERATIVE, that the iu!-
isdctioual limits of the respective govern
ments in this new region be sneeuily de-
termined. Her Britannia maiesty's gov
eminent has pr pos ii joint delimta-
ton of the one hundred and iorty-Hrst
meridian bv an International comm lsslon
of experts which, If congress Wall au
thoize 1t and make due provision there
for. can be accomplished With no unrea-
sonable delay. 1t IS impos.lbl, to over
Look the vital importance of continuing
the work already entered up1n and sup
pementlng it ny further effecrive meas
ures looking TO the exact lorat on OF this
entire boundary line. | call attention
to unsatisfactory delinitatl IN OF the
respective jurisdictions OF tue United
States and the domihiu of Canada and
the great lakes att he approaches to the
narrow wa.ers that connect them. These
eaters in question are frequented by Dish
ermen Of both nationalitics, and their
nets are there used. Owine to the Uncer
tainty and ignorance as to the true bound.
ary, vexatious dispnts and injurious siz-
ures of boats and nets by Canadian cruis.
ers often occur. while any positive settle
ment thereof by an acce .,ted standard is
easily to be reached. A joint commits
sion to determine the line in these quar-.
tiers, on practical basis, by measured
is a necessity for which immediate pro
vision should bs made.
VENEZUELAN BOUNDARY.
1t being apparent that the boundary
| dispute betv cen Great Britain and the
republic OF Venezuela concerning she
limits OF British Guinea was approach
! ing an acute stage, a definite statement
/ OF the interest and policy OF these United
| States az regards .he controversy seemed
| to be REQUIRED both on its own account
| aud in view OF its relat ons with the
| friendly powers directly concer ed.
| In July last. therefore q dispatch was
! addressed TO our am bassadOr at London
| for communication to the British gos-
eminent, 10 which the attitude of the
| Unitei States was fully and distinctly
| set forth. The general conclusions there
| in reached and formulated ars in substance
! that that traditional and established pol
| lev OF tuis government IS firmly opposed
| to fo;cible increase by any European
| nor,ar ~ ito ta,ritorial rosSessiOuS in tbs