The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-25

Il
iast agreed 10 arossrate with the United
states the claim resulting from tae seizure
OF seaiers Ii Boring sea, which has been
penang aoout eight years. A protocol. De-
tween the TWO governments has been
Drawn up and the final fornlallties are ex-
pected to be concluded next month, and az
oiuation viii probably take the form OF
the venezuelan court
Differ From British Cases.
WASHINGTON. Oct. a-These claims
originated in the seizure by Russian su-
1horiaes on the coast OF Siberia OF three
american sealing vesse.s and the dam
ages claimed aggregated about Sl5e $50. The
YES were the James Hamilton Lewis.
the Cape Horn Pigeon and the {. II.
mite In each case the largest item OF the
Claim Is On account of the suffering OF
amer. 10 ofnee.. ana crews while under
presented by British seaiers which were
settled by the Bering sea arbitration in
me Tact that while the British vessels were
seized by American revenue cutters on
what the arbitration declared to ee the
hisa seas. Russian men-of-~ar seized these
american seaiers within seven miss OF the
Aslauc coast.
IL IS a matter Of interest that fer the
nrs' lime the Russian government con-
TENDS mat marine Jurisdiction OF a coun-
try extsncs al least this distance from the
shore instead Of being limited TO a marine
league as laid down by the older writer's
on international law. The league was
extreme distance from shore that a shot
could be thrown BY one OF the old cannon.
and the Russians hold the limit should be
extended 10 correspond to the increased
range OF modern ordnance
Inc protocol through which the arbitra-
hon Was arranged was prepared in st.
petersburg by United States Minister
Tower and the Russian foreign Office 1t
was agreed BY the parties that there should
De but one arbitrator. and the person
leoted for that post is Mr.. Asser. cele-
ad at ~hr. bs,,lr
part in The Hague conference. The case
will be submitted to him just as soon as
the papers can be prepared at the state
department.
Russias agreement 10 arbitrate her Ber-
ing sea claims Is source Of great sa,isfac-
ton TO the United States ambassador to
don on his way to st. Petersburg. He said
TO a representative of the Associated Press:
The relations between Russia and the
United States were never more close or
friendly than today The only difference
existing between the two nations Is now
sure of settlement on lines similar to the
Petersburg on Saturday and the finishing
touches will then be put on the agree
ment."
MI Tower was questioned on the sub
jeci of the publication of the runor that
Russia intends to take advantage OF the
Transvaal war by aggression upon British
territory. He said:
Naturally 1t Is impossible for me to
speak of Russias policy towards Great
Britain. even II knew anything, but l can
say most enphatically that Russias atti-
tude towards the United States is not
prejudiced by our friendship for Great
Britain
1t was inferred Mr. Tower did not put
much faith in the reports OF a Franco-Ru
sian alliance against Great Britain. An
other American diplomat said to a repre-
sentative Of the Associated Press;
The Importance of getting Russia to ar
bitrate these claims Is greater than the
material agreement indicates. Frequent ef-
forts have been made to this end.
But" he added. Mr. Tower has achiev-
ed what others had 70 give up despairing-
ly This IL practical evidence OF the friend
Illness OF Russia and the United States and
completely refutes the claims OF those who
have maintained that we have engendered
Europe's hatred by our close relations with
England