, 1889-05-02
A ROAR.
The Li"n's Tail is Pinehed and the Howl
Goes Ip.


Goes Up.
OTTAWA, April 26.-In the house Of
commons to-day Prior brought up the
question OF the alleged illegal seizure oil
British vessels in the Behring sea. He
said the nted States, England and
Russia signed a treaty in 1921 in which
Russia abandoned her claims to the ex-
elusive jurisdiction in Behring sea, he
referred TO the seizure Of three ships from
Victoria in Behring sea III 1886 by Amer
can cruisers and the greatest portion OF
the catch coDiscRted at the same time.
1t was caught long before the alleged
American waters we're reached. No set
tlement has been arrived at for those
seizures nor had any compensation been
offered to the owners who have been
| ruined. The amount OF original claims
reached $l53.000 Eight other vessels
were seized in the following year. He
referred to the hardsbips experienced by
British seamen on these vessels, who,
after being landed at Alaska, were
w iNAuA III
coalition. Three OF the vessels to-day
lay rottiDG on the beach OF Alaska He
knew the Dominion gUver rnment had
asked England to secure a settlement
and be wanted information as to the delay
in bringing international negotiations to
a close. If any blame existed he wants
to know where it rested. He coRtrRsted
the delay in settling the Behring sea at-
fair with the haste shown by the United
States in Samoan affairs. He contend
ed that majority Of Americans on the
Pacific coast we're opposed to the monop- |
oily enjoyed by the commercial company
in Alaska. Nothing, he conteDded, could |
justify the seizure Of British vessels, in |
several Instances many hundred miles |
from land. He referred to the issue of |
proclamation by President Harrison and |
said il rs a violation Of international |
right. Blaine he regarded as the author
OF the proclamation which simply pro-
poses TO enrich the Alaska commercial |
company. The monopoly he said had Its
agents and lobbyists at Washington and
he urged the government to ask the i'm
perial authorities to send British war
vessel to BehriOg sea. lie felt certain
If httle gun boat puts its nose near the
Aletian island, We would bear Of no fur
ther seizures. Davies liberal agreed
with Prior as 10 the importance of the
matter. Delay, he said, simply showed
Canada could never secure summary
lusti. e unit! she had au agent at Wash
iDgton, il English and American rela-
tions were unfriendly no reason existed
why Canada should suffer. The present
state of affairs could con-
tinue until Canada Lad right to make
her own treaties. Davies then turned
bis attention TO an alleged indigsity
by an American cruiser in
sea to show that Americans had
no jurisdiction outside their marine
limit. Sir John Mcdonald replied: He
said he would not deal with the question
OF establishing q commercial agency in
Parliament had already
decided the question. The United
States. he continued, claimed exclusive
in Bebring sea; in American
seas Canadian vessels had suffered equal
ly from aggressive monopoly. The ques-
ton was not local one, 1t was one that
affected all maritime nations which, be
felt certain, would resist tire iniquitous
attempt OF the United States to claim
Behring sea. England was pressing for
settlement. Sir Julian Pouncefoot, he
felt sure, rs British minister at Wash
ington. would do all in his power to bring
the matter to termination. England
had endorsed Canada's claims and re-
Gently admitted that American conten-
tiona we're unfounded, and if the United |
States insisted upon its pretentions grave
complications would arise and what the |
result would be he dared not say, nor
did he dare think of the result. Canada |
had resisted her wrongs and she would |
continue to do SO.