Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 June 1891 — TO STOP SEAL KILLING. [ARTICLE]

TO STOP SEAL KILLING.

President Harrison Issues Hit Proclamation Relative Thereto. The Agreement in Fall Between the Unitec States and Great Britain—Beneficent Results From it Are Expected. —The President on the 15th issued thefol. lowing proclamation: “Whereas, An agreement for a modus vivendi, between the Government of thi United States and the Government of Her Brittanic Majesty, in relation to the fui seal fisheries in Behring Sea was concluded on the 15th day of June, in the year oi our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one. word for word, as follows: Agreement between the Government ol the United States and the Government oi Her Brittanic Majesty for a modus vivendi in relation to the iur seal fisheries in BehrfngSea. For the purpose of avoiding irritating differences, and with the view of promoting the friendly settlement of thequestions pending between the two governments, touching theirrespective rights in Behring Sea, and for the preservation of the s >:il species, the following agreement is mack without prejudice to the rights of either party: 1. Her Majesty’s Government will prohibit until May next seal killing in that part of Behring Sea lying eastward of the line of Demarcation described in Article No. 1 of the treaty of 1867 between the United States and Russia, and will promptly use its best efforts to insure the observance of this prohibition by British subjects and vessels. 2. The United States Government will prohibit seal killing for the same period in the same part of Behring sea and on the shores ana islands thereof, the property ol the United States (in excess of 7.750 to be taken on the islands for the subsistence and care of the natives), and will promptly use its best efforts to insure the observance of this prohibition byUnited States citizens and vessels. 3. Every vessel or person offending against this prohibition in said waters ol Behring sea outside of the ordinary territorial limits of the United States may be seized and detained by the naval, or the duly commissioned officers of either high contracting parties, but they shall be handed over as soon as practicable to the authorities of the nation to which they respectively belong, whichshall have jurisdiction to fry the offense and impose the penalties for the same. The witnesses and proofs necessary to establish the offense shall also be sent with them. 4. In order to facilitate such proper inquiries as Her Majesty’s Government desires to make with a view to the presentation of the case of that government before arbitration, and in expectation that an agreement for arbitration may be arrived at, it is agreed that suitable persons designated by Great Britain will be permitted at any time upon application to visit or to remain upon the seal islands during the present sealing season for the purpose. Signed and sealed in duplicate at Washington, this 15th day of June, 1891, on behalf of their respective governments by William E. Wharton, acting Secretary oi State of the United States, and Sir Julian Paunceforte. K. C. 8.. Her Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. [seal] William F. Wharton, [seal] Julian Pauncefolpce. Now therefore, be it known that I, Benjamin Harrison. President of the United States of America, have caused the said agreement to be made public, to the end that the same and every part thereof may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States of America and the citizens thereof. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. —Done—at the City of Washington, this 15th day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninetyone, and the independence of the United States the one hundredth and fifteenth. ] seal] Benjamin Harrison. By the President. William F. Wharton, acting Secretary of State. The arrangement indicated in the abovt proclamation was carried to completion, with a degree of speed without precedeni in the history of the State departinent.and the cable was relied upon to an unwonted extent. The agreement was signed Monday morning by Sir Julian Paunceforte and Mr. Wharton, and the presidentia proclamation was issued as quickly as it couid be prepared. The Navy Department has also been advised of the progress and orders are now in preparation for the immediate dispatch of probably two naval vessels from San Francisco to Alaska where they will assist the three revenut cutters in the task of driving off the packing vessels. It will be noticed that tht agreement authorizes the United States vessels to seize offending British vessel} which, however, are to be turned over k the British authorities for trial, and thil feature of the agreement is expected te prove of great value In the pressing emer genev, that is held to exist, of clearing ou* the law-breaking vessel before irrepar able damage has been done to the sea fisheries.