The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1889-08-29
Who Kept the Question Open2

here is some confusion in the public mind
a. to who is responsible for the failure of the
diplomatic negotiations which had in view the
settlement of the Behring Sea question and the
protection of the seal fisheries. 1t is generally
known that an attempt to settle the question
was made under the Cleveland Administrations
and some OF the Democratic papers have en-
deayored 10 hold the Senate accountable for
the failure to reach satisfactory result. The
New 0rk Tribune has found AN explanation
of the matter, however, in the diplomatic cor
re>pondence which was submitted to Congress
last February. In August, 1851, the State De
partment sent instructions to the American
Ministers to Germany, Sweden and Norway
Russia, Japan and Great Britain for opening
negotiations for a close season in Behring Sea.
The oNertures We're well received. especially in
Russia; and England and Lord Salisbury in De-
cenber instructed Mr.. Chamberlain that he
was fay vorably disposed to negotiating for
agreement as to a close season in all seal Usher
les, 10 whomsoeyer belonging The neyotia-
tUns were carried on between the representa-
tye> of the three Powers chiefly conceruGd
and the other maritime Powers Were told that
as soon as an agreement was reached the cOnven-
ton would be seEt TO them. A delay occurred
however, and in July, 1SSs, the Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Japan informed our Gov
ernment of the readiness of Japan to partic
pate In the negotiations, if they had reached q
stage which would admit of it. In letter to
Minister Hubbard, in reply to one communrat-
Ing this expression from Japan, Secretary Bay
ard wrote:
''No change is known to have taken place i'll the
state of the negotiations at lOn'lon since the
Department last wrote you on the subject. -Four
months ago strong hopes were entertained here
that the convention would soonj be concluded.
But the department is now informed that the
views of Her Britannia Maiesty's Minister for
Foreign A fairs hare met cHh obstruction iioAt
t"h0d0 rhere reSSeiS are yearly Htted out fpr he
purpose Of Preying Up0H seal lire iy the of Nrc
arms dHd other destrNctice we0pOnS.
l)pl1Ctnpnt lln ~ l,Ilr ii
of the Japanese Government concerning the meas
ures necessary for the protection of its interests
in the otter, and to he furnished with information
respecting thcirterlitorial and pccuniary extent.
am, etc L. r. RAYARp."
Here is the key to the situation. 1t appears
from the sentence which we have printed in
italics that the reason the negotiations We're I'M
successful was that Canada obstructed them.
That is TO say, i'll order TO furnish employment
for her con>cienccess and piraticaI sealers
Canada contrived to keep this question open
and to render the negotiations of no avail. and
now. when one Of her sealers suffers, Canada
protests against the Interference with these
pracies a> an "outrage" calling for redress.
Perhaps it is because Lord Salisbury is well
aware how and for what purpose the question
was left without adjustment that he has preserv
ed a calmness of demeanor over the later COM
picatons which the Canadians find very cN-
asperating. Boston Journal.