The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-05-31
NO FEAR OF WAR.
American and Canadian omcials Talk
About the seal.

ABOUT the seal.
WASHINGTON, May SO-The warlike
dispatches from British Columbia with re-
gard 70 the expected trouble between the
United states and Great Britain over the
Bchring sea seal fisheries are generally
dericed by the officials Of the navy de-
partnenL IL is pointed out that no officer
OF rank sufficiently high % make him Ac-
quAinted with the English governments
purposes would under any circumstances
be so foolish as 10 talk in the manner
stated in a dispatch from Victoria. b. c.
A prominent naval officer to-day said the
United States had no reason to apprehend
any difficulty. Great Britain assuredly
would not commit any overt act
OF violence in case her seSlers were arrest
ed, without warning this government of its
intentions. The warning that Great Bri-
tain would by force dispute the sOver
eighty of Behring Sea never had been com
muntcated TO the United States, and this
alone showed the imprObAbility Of the
81 ,ry- IL might be that the war vessels
named were going to Benring Sea, though
that was by no means certain. Their dut-
les there, however, would probably con-
sist in nothing more than keeping watch
on the situation to protect their citizens
from being wantonly ill-used and giving
the sealers good advice. IL our vessels at
IL
II might be that the British would feel
called upon to Interfere The United
States sent vessels 20 the New
foundland fisheries each year TO
look after American interests and
the British vessels probably had a similar
mission in the Alaskan waters, presuming
they would go there. The United States
naval forces at present available in
Bchring sea consists of the Bear, Thetis
ana revenue cutter These vessels are
OF no use Tor actual warfare and are sim
ply policemen OF the sea. The Adams and |
lroquOis are at Mare island and could be |
sent 10 sea at short notice II circumstances |
demanded tt The Charleston Is also Al /
san FRANCISCO, but it will be sometime be- |
fore she Will be ready TO go into commits |
sion. She has demonstrated. il is said, /
that she is an excellent boat but /
has not yet fulfilled the contract re- /
quIrements. Eved If these requirements /
were waived under stress of emergency IL Il
would take some tine to Mt the Charleston i
ont for service, as has already been stated. /
However, naval officers do not think the
situation at all alarming or even threaten
iRg The Behring sea fisheries, they are 4
confident, VIII not precipitate a confil ct be-
tween the United States and Great Britain
OTTAWA, May 80 The department of
NJ arine and fisheries Is without any official
Information as 10 the despatch of warships
to Behring sea by either England or the
! Rited States. No significance is attached
BY head officials To the despatch of these
steamers; At any rate, that is how they ex-
press themselves
LONDON, May 80 -In the commons this
evening Sir James Ferguson. parliamentary
lecretAry 10 the foreign office. denied the |
epOrt from Victoria, B. C., that three men
'fwar in the Pacific bad been ordered 10
proceed TO Behring sea in June 20 protect
SrltiSh sealing vessels from interference
~ American men-of-war.