The San Francisco call., 1896-06-12
SEALING SEIZURE CLAIMS
Text of the Convention Between
the United States and
England.
All Damages to Be Determined by
Two Commissioners, Not Yet
Appointed.

WASHINGTON, D. c., June 11.-Fol-
lowing is the text of the convention be-
tween the Governments of the United
States and Great Britain providing for the
settl ement of the claims presented by
Great Britain against the United States
on account OF the seizure Of BeriDg Sea
sealerS:
WHEREAS, BY treaty between the United
States OF America and her Majesty, the Queen
of the United Kingdom OF Great Britain and
Ireland, signed at Washington on February 8,
1892, the questions which had arisen be-
tween their respective Governments concern
ing the jurisdictional rights of the United
States in the waters of the Behring
Sea and concerning also the preservation OF
the fur seal in or habitually resorting to the
said sea and the rights OF the citizens and sub
jects of either country as regards the taking
of fur seal in or habitually 'resort1ng to the
said waters, were submitted to tribunal of
ar bitration as therein constituted; and
whereas, the high contracting parties having
found themselves unable to agree upon
a reference which would include the ques-
ton of the liability OF each for the injuries
alleged to have been sustained by the other or
by its citizens, in connection with the claims
presented and argued by it, did, by article VIII
of the said treaty, agree that either party
might submit to the arbitrators any questions
of fact involved in said claims and ask for
binding thereof, the question OF the liability
of either Government on the facts
found to be the subject of the fur.
ther negotiation; and whereas, the agent OF
Great Britain Q1d, IN accordance with the pro-
visions of said article VIII, submit to the tri-
bunal of arbitration certain findings of fact,
which was agreed TO as proved by the agent OF
the United States, and the arbitrators did
unanimously find the facts so set forth to be
true, as appears by the award of the tribunal
| rendered on the 18th cay of August,
1898; and whereas, in view of the said
| finding of fact and of the decision OF the
| tribunal OF arbitration concerning the juris-
| dictional rights of the United States in Bering
Sea and the right of protection of property of
the United States in the fur seals frequenting
the islands of the United States in Bering Sea,
the Government OF the United States is de-
sirous that, in SO far as its liability is not
already fixed and determined by the
! findings OF fact and the decision of said
! tribunal of arbitration, the question of
| such liability should be definitely and fully
settled and determined and compensation
made for any injuries for which, in the con-
! temptation of the treaty aforesaid and the
award and findings of the tribunal of
arbitration, compensation may be due
States; and whereas, it is claimed by
Great Britain, though not admitted by the
| United States, that prior to the said award
certain other claims against the United States
| accrued in favor of Great Britain on account
| OF seizures of or interference with the follow
/ ing named British sealing vessels, to wit: 1hs
| Wanderer, the Winifred, the Henrietta and
/ the Oscar and Hattie, and it is for the mutual
! interest and convenience of both the
| OF the United States, if any, and the amount
OF compensation TO be paid, if any, in respect
OF such claims, and each of them should be
also determined under the provisions OF this
! convention-all claims by Great Britain under
! article Nv OF the modus Viyendi OF April 1S