This settlement is another triumph for arbitration.

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The treaty entered into by the Russian, Japanese, and United States sealing commissioners has been signed.

The treaty prohibits deep-sea sealing in waters controlled by them.

The treaty does not apply (so far as Great Britain is concerned) to the Bering Sea.  By the treaty of Paris this sea was declared to be an open sea, free to all at a certain distance from the coast; therefore Great Britain can indulge in deep-sea sealing in those waters if she pleases.

It is hoped, however, that England’s love of justice will convince her that there must be some truth in the statement about the decrease of the seal herd, and not wishing to be the only country engaged in improper sealing, she will eventually add her signature to the treaty.

This seems the more likely as it is reported that at the sealing conference with Great Britain, which follows the Russo-Japanese conference, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Canadian Premier, will endeavor to settle the disputed matters satisfactorily.

The Canadian Premier has always desired to maintain the most friendly relations with us, and though he has given no hint of his intentions on the sealing question, it is understood that he means to reach an amicable understanding with us.

It is also said that he intends to see the President while he is in Washington, and if possible clear away all the existing difficulties between Canada and the United States.

The sealing trouble is only one of the matters which need arranging.  There is the Kootenay affair, the Klondike question, and a number of other fishery and tariff differences.

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Our Government will soon have an opportunity of testing the value of the reindeer which have been imported into Alaska.

A number of whaling-vessels are fast in the ice off the coast of Alaska, and it is necessary to send food to the sailors on them to save them from starvation.

These ships went up through the Bering Sea this summer to ply their dangerous trade as usual.  The winter set in earlier than usual, and eight of them have been caught in the ice off Point Barrow, which is on the north of Alaska, jutting out into the Arctic Ocean.

There are about two hundred and seventy-five men on these vessels.  Not expecting to spend the winter in the Arctic Ocean, they were not prepared for such an emergency, and none of them carried more than a three-months’ supply of food.  The gravest fears are entertained lest they die of starvation.

The matter was brought to the attention of the President, who immediately called a Cabinet council, at which it was decided to send a relief expedition to these men.

The plan is to charter a steam-whaler, the Thrasher, which is now at San Francisco, and send her with provisions and clothing to Port Clarence, which you will find marked just below Cape Prince of Wales, the most easterly point of our continent, which bounds the Bering Straits on the American side.