The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-12-04
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 sintimatelyimportant, have demanded
during the past year even greater share
of consideration than is usual. Several
vexatious questions were left undecided
by the decision of the Behring sea arbitra-
tion 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 insufficency 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 we'll as the adoption of such
additional regulations as experience has
shown to be absolutely necessary to carry
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 un-
less their slaughter is at once effectively
checked their extinction within few
years seems to be Il 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 S425,UO 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 ad-
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 ths
proposition that the government is bound
by every consideration of honor and good
ldlUn W Cuc
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 first 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 o. the Alas
kan boundary which follows the one
hundred and forty first meridian north
wardl, from Mt Saint Elias to the fvozeu
ocean the settlement of which involves
the physical location of the meridian
| ment oned, no conditional agreement ha
yet been made