The record-union., 1896-06-12

WASHINGTON, June 11.-Following
Is the text of the convention between
the Governments of the United States
and Great Britain providing for the
settlement of the claims presented by
Great Britain against the United states
on account of the seizure of the Behr1ng
Sea sealerS:
Whereas, By a treaty between the
United States of America and her maj
esty the Queen Of the United King
dom of Great Britain and Ireland,
signed at Washington on February .,
1892, the question which had arisen be-
tween their respective Governments
concerning the jurisdictional rights OF
the United States in the waters or the
Behring Sea, and also concerning the
preservation of the fur seal in, or habit
ually resorting to, the said sea, ana
the rights of the citizens and subjects
of either country as regards the taking
of fur seal in or habitually resorting to
the said waters, were submitted to
tribunal of arbitration as therein con-
stituted; and
Whereas, The high contracting par
ties having found themselves unable to
agree upon a reference which would in
clude the question of the liability of
each for the injuries alleged to have
been sustained by the other, or it's citi-
Gems, in connection with the claims pre-
scented and urged by it did, by Article
VIII. Of the said treaty, agree that
either party might submit to the arbi-
traitors any questions of fact involved
in said claims, and ask for a binding
thereof the question of the liability of
either Government on the facts found
to be the subject of the further nego-
tiation; and
Whereas, The agent of Great Brit
ain did, in accordance with the provis-
ions of said Article VIII, submit to
the tribunal of arbitration certain find
ings of fact, which was agreed to as
proved by the agent of the United
States, and the arbitrators did unani-
mousIy find the facts so set forth to be
true, as appears by the award of the
tribunal rendered on the 18th day of
August, 1893; and
Whereas, In view Of the said finding
of fact, and Of the decision of the tri-
bunal of arbitration concerning the
jurisdictional rights of the United
States in Behring Sea, and the right of
pIOtCNLAOll VI plOptIIy VI lue L LIlcu
States in the fur seals frequenting the
islands of the United States in Behring
Sea, the Government of the United
States is DESTROYS that in SO far as its
liability is not already fixed and de-
termined by the findings of fact and the
difference Of said tribunal of arbitra-
ton, the question of such liability
should be definitely and fully settled
and determined, and compensation
made for any injuries for which, in the
contemplation of the treaty aforesaid
ard the award and findings Of the tri-
bunal Of arbitration, compensation may
be due to Great Britain and to the
United States; and
Whereas, 1t is claimed by Great Bri-
tain, 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 or in
reference with the following
British sealing vessels, to wit: The
Wanderer, the Winifred, the Henri
eta and the Oscar and Hattie, and it
is for the mutual interest and con-
venience Of both the high contracting
parties that the liability of the United
States. if any, and the amount Of COM
pensation to be paid, if any, in respect