APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 521 
[Inclosure 2 in No. 345.—Extract from the ‘‘New York Herald” of May 22, 1890.) 
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN CANADA. 
[From our Regular Correspondent.] 
“HERALD” BUREAU, CORNER OF FIFTEENTH AND G STREETS, N.W., 
Washington, May 21, 1890. 
Tlearn that at the Cabinet meeting yesterday it was decided to reject the British 
proposition submitted three weeks ago for a settlement of the Behring’s Sea question. 
Secretary Windom, as I am informed, was decidedly opposed to the acceptance of 
the proposal—tirst, because its provisions were deemed by him entirely inadequate to 
secure the professed object of preserving seal life in Behring’s Sea, and, second, 
because 1t virtually ignored the established position of the United States in that sea 
arising out of its ownership of the partially surrounding shores and of a part of the 
islands within the sea; the possession of a universally recognized boundary-line 
which included in the cession to the United States the very part of the sea wherein 
alone this country has sought to exercise a territorial jurisdiction; the inheritance 
from Russia vf a continuous claim of jurisdiction never directly questioned nor suc- 
cessfully assailed, and the undoubted right that the United States has to exercise a 
reasonable police jurisdiction to protect its own property and interests in Behring’s 
Sea, and secure to itself the natural use and profit thereof. 
Secretary Blaine did not advocate an acceptance of the proposal, and thought it 
probable that further negotiations would abate the Canadian contentions and 
improve the position of the United States. The British proposal, being without sup- 
port from either of the two Departments immediately concerned with “It, necess: ivily 
met with rejection, a like fate with that which overtook the preceding American 
proposal in the Council of the Governor-General of Canada 
JT understand that in neither case was an acceptance of the proposal anticipated 
by the party submitting it, but that the only result expected from the exchange of 
proposals was the bringing of the parties a little nearer together by the elimination 
of some of the points of difference: 
To some extent, according to my information, this expectation has been realized, 
so that the negotiations are vreally in a better state, notwithstanding the reflection of 
the counter- -proposals than at the beginning. 
The Next Step. 
T am advised that the next step in the negotiations will be the discussion and set- 
tlement of the details connected with the creation of a Joint Commission of experts 
to prepare and submit to the two Governments a full and particular project as the 
basis of a Treaty by which the whole question can be permanently settled. It is 
possible that the Government of Russia may be directly represented in this Commis- 
sion of experts, but that is a matter which has not yet received any consideration, 
and is altogether likely to be governed by the wishes of that Government at the 
proper time. ; 
In any and all events, there is a confident expectation that a Treaty can be framed 
in time for submission to the Senate immediately upon the opening of the second 
Session of the present Congress. 
471 Enforcing a Closure. 
The more important question for the Cabinet yesterday was that of the ad interim 
policy to be pursued in Behring’s Sea with immediate reference to the sealing sea- 
son, which will be in full headway by the end of this month. The Treasury view 
was that, inasmuch as the British Government had admitted a close season to be 
necessary to the preservation of the seals and the just interest of the United States, 
and had offered as part of its proposal a radius around the seal islands to protect 
the female seals from attacks while obtaining food in the waters adjacent to the 
Rookery Islands, it would be admissible and proper to enforce by warning, and by 
restraint after warning had proved ineffectual in any case. such a closure during the 
present season, relying upon the good sense and disposition of the British Govern- 
ment to acquiesce in measures so entirely reasonable and merely provisional. 
This view prevailed, it being a practical and substantial acceptance of the modus 
rivendi voluntarily tendered by the British Government in company with its rejected 
proposal. The Commanders of the cruizing vessels will be emphatically enjoined to 
refrain, so far as possible within the lines of their instructions, from any conduct 
toward the British sealers whom they meet with that can be made the occasion of 
just complaint or resentment. 
These instructions will be communicated to the British Government in order that 
the Canadian authorities may take any action they may deem advisable toward the 
common end of maintaining peace and amity from now till the close of the season. 
