Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-01

WASHINGTON, July 31.-When Assist
ant Secretary Wharton was questioned to-
day. in regard to the seizure of the British
schooner Black Diamond, by the revenue
cutter Rush, be replied that it would mani
testify be out of place for him to express an
opinion. In addition to that, he wasn'i
prepared to speak upon the occurrence, be
cause he had not fully examines. the ques,
ton. The order under which the COM
mander of the Rush acted was issued from
the Treasury, but whether it justified the
summary treatment of the Britisher, and
the overhauling and search of the other
British schooner, the Triumph, he couldn't
say.
1t is the opinion of officials who have fol-
lowed this question from its inception that
either the commander of the Rush or the
Treasury authorities have made serious
mistake. OF course, if the commander
EXCEEDED HIS ORDERS,
the affair will easily be settled by expiana-
ton to the British Government and dis
cipline of the officer, but ii he acted strictly
within the letter of his instructions. it is the
general opinion that a serious International
quarrel will result, in which the United
States will be forced to back down.
An old official of the State Department
said to the correspondent of THE DISPATCH
this evening: II see it stated by several
newspapers that there exists an understand
ing between the United States and other
nations that the seals of Behring Sea are to
be protected, and that orders to the com
mander of the Rush were in accord
with the understanding. Now, to my
knowledge there exists no such understand
t. q L. oct 1aofr nf hr Ra
ard to secure the cooperation of other ma
tions for the protection of the seals of the
Behring Sea, but no arrangement was eff
fected previous to his passing out Of Office,
and no correspondence of an international
character has since occurred on the subject.
RIGHTS IN THE CASE.
'To my mind, the United States has no
Jurisdiction over any vessels in the Behring
Sea outside the three-mile limit, except ves-
sells bearing the American flag. The law
for the protection of seals is operative in
their case, but no other, and for the United
States Government to assume Jurisdiction in
the Behring Sea, outside the three-mile
limit, would open the way for
other Governments to make a SINH
lar claim of control of the high
seas on other coasts. Sixty years ago this
Government disputed the right of Russia to
assume control of the Behring Sea outside
of this limit, asserting it to be the high sea,
with the world as its common owner, and
nothing would justify the assumption Of a
claim that was denied to Russia.
81 do not apprehend serious trouble, how
ever. That is, 1 do not think the complica-
tion will end in war. The act Of the COM
mander Of the Rush
WILL LEAD TO PROMPT ACTION
on the part of both Governments interested,
and will doubtless result in an understand
ing that the seals are to be protected in the
interests of the tur-wearing people Of the
whole world.
'The trouble is that if no seal fishing, or
a very limited seal fishing, is allowed out
side the three-mile limit, this profitable in
dustry will be practically controlled by the
United States and monopoiized by a cor
poration having its franchise from
the United States. In the settlement of the
question, if the propagation of the seal is to
be protected it will be necessary to construct
more liberal laws regulating the fishing for
seals, as if foreigners are not permitted to
fish within the three-mile limit, they will
certainly insist on fishing outside of it, even
at the risk OF arrest by their own or the
United States Government"