Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-24
WON'T FIGHT OVER 1T.
No War Anticipated With Great Brit
ain Over Behring Sea Seizures.
MERELY A POLICE PRECAUTION.
The Only Purpose to lntimidate Canadais
Cruisers for Our Seals.
ONLY A P0PGUN POLICY ADOPTED
IERELY A POLICE PRECAUTION.
ONLY A P0PGUN POLICY ADOPTED
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE prsrArcH.,

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE D1SPATCH.l
WASHINGTON, August 2S.-Persons who
are particularly friendly to the administra.
ton have advanced the theory as to the
seizure of British vessels in Behring Sea
that it is not the purpose of the United
States to institute any condemnation pro-
eeedings against the vessels, and that this is
the reason why they are not brought into
American ports, and adequate crews are NOT
provided to do this.
"The only purpose ofthe administration, I"
said gentleman who has some knowledge
on the subject, sis to intimidate the Cana
dian cruisers and prevent them from illicit
capture of the seals. The United States has
no intention of vigorously enforcing the
laws to the extent of condemning the appar-
atus or vessels of the Canadians. The pur-
pose of the administration, in other words,
is not to have the vessels of the Canadian
fishermen condemned, but to take whatever
seals they have captured within the waters
of the United States, and
TO POLICE BEHRING SEA
The Canadian sealers warned off will not
be likely to return again this season. 1t is
very probable that the Harrison admins
tration desires to avoid the experience of
President Cleveland and doesn't care to bring
Canadian sealing vessels into port and then
be compelled to release them. Meanwhile the
somewhat ambiguous statement of Secretary
Blaine, made some weeks ago, that no claim
had been made by the United States that
Behring Sea is a closed sea, appears to
derive additional significance. AT all
events, it is pretty certain that the instruc-
tons which have been given to the COM
mander of the Rush relate to the policing OF
Behring Sea, to prevent the capture of
seals, and do not have in view any attempt
to assert the claim that Behring Sea is a
closed sea. If that was the purpose of the
administration, it would be the four naval
vessels which are now cruising in those
waters that would be heard from, and not
the small revenue cutter Rush
NOT MUCH KNOWN OF 1T.
This is the view of a gentleman who is on
close relations with officials of the State
Department, and it is deserving of consider
alton on that account. No one here ap-
pears to be very clear what the object OF the
administration is with respect to the seal
fishery matter, and it is not altogether GER
tain that the administration has any definite
views about it. The situation is ID part
inherited. Both the President and
Secretary of State have been so
busily engaged, to this hour, in
peddling offices, and in regarding the claims
OF various claimants, lnaL IL NAV De QOuDJeQ
whether they have had much opportunity
to take down the books of international law
and treaties to ascertain exactly how the
Government stands on this question.
One thing is pretty clear about the whole
business-none of the Republican leaders
anticipate any
TROUBLE WITH GREAT BRITAIN
because of the Behring Sea matter. 1t is ]
to be added also, that very few Of the Re-
publican leaders know very much about
the subject. 1t is pretty certain, however,
that if the administration contemplated any
war policy, it would not be proceeding with
& petty revenue cutter, from whose crew
single man, even if dignifed by the omin- |
GUS title of the "prize crew." is seriously
missed.
C. c. Shayne, of New York, having re-
Gently stated that the Alaska Commercial
Company is mainly made up of foreigners, |
the representatives. of that company here
correct the statement The law provides
that the fur seal lease shall be forfeited if |
foreigners are interested in it. The state
ment is made that the present directors and |
managers are Lewis Sloss, the President |
of the company; Lewis Gerstle, ex-Presi-
dent; Gustave Niebaum-the three being
residents of San Francisco-and c. A. |
Williams, ofNew London, Conn.