The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-27
The Behring Sea Seizures Come Up
in Parliament.
Tho United States Censured for
Selling British Vessels.
Our Claims Hooted ut as Absurd
and Ridiculous.
A Strong Complaint Against tho British
Foreign onico-A Liberal Member
Thinks Canada Must Have
Washington to Get Justice.

washington to Get Justice.
OTTAWA, Ont, April 26--In the House
OF commons today Mr. Prior brought up
the question OF the alleged illegal seizure
OF British vessels in Behring's Sea. lie
said tina, the United States, England and
Russia signed n treaty in 1921 in which
Russia abandoned her claims TO exclusive
jurisdiction in Behring's sea. lie referred
to the seizure Of three ships from Victoria,
Il. c., in Behring's Sea in 1886 by Ameri-
can cruisers. The greatest portion OF the
catch conhscatcd at the same time, was
caught long before the alleged waters were
reached. No settlement had been arrived
at for the seizures, nor had any compensa-
ton been offered to the owners, who had
been ruined. The amount OF the original
claims reached Sl53OO0.
Eight other vessels were seized In the
following year. lie referred TO the hard.
ships experienced by the British scamen
on these vessels, who, after being landed
at Alaska, were Obliged TO return home in
q pcnnilcss condition. Three OF the YES
sels today lay rotting on the beach Of
Alaska. lie knew that the Dominion Gov
eminent had asked England 10 secure
settlement, and he has wanted iniorma-
ton rs TO the delay In bringing the inter
national negotiations to a close. II any
blame existed he wanted to know where
Il rested lie contras,cd the delay In set
Ting the Behring's Sea affair with the
haste shown 10y the United States in
the samoan affair. lie contendcd
that the majority OF Americans on
the Pacific coast were opp ed 10
the monopoly enjoyed boy the commercial
company n Alaska. Nothing, he con-
tended, could Justify the seizure OF British
vessels in several instances many hun
drcds Of miles from land. lie referred to
the issue OF the proclamation by President
Harrison aud said IL was a violation Of in
trrnalional rights Mr.. Baine he rcgard-
| cd ~ the author oi the proclamation.
which simply proposed Ia enrich tho
| Alaska Commercial Company. The mo-
nop1ly, he said, had is agents and lobby
ISIS nj Washington. lie urged the Gov
crnmcnt tu ask the Imperial authorities
10 send a British war vessel TO Buhring
soa. lie felt certain that even II little
! Islands We would hear OF no further soiE-
unA
Mr. Davis Olibcml) agreed with Mr..
! Prior as iu the importance % the matter.
| The delay lac said, simply showed that
Canada ruuld never secure summary JUS
ticn until she had q General Washington.
II English aud American relations were
unircudly no reason existed why Canada
| should sullrr. The present unsatisfactory
| state Of niiniw would continue until
! canada had the right 10 make her own
| treaties Mr.. Davis then turned his at
| trnti1n 10 the alleged indigniiirs committed
/ by American cruisers In Behring's Sea 10
snow that Americans had no Jurisdiction
/ outside the three mile marine limit Sir
| John Macdonald replied. Ito said ha
I would not deal with the question Of cstab.
! fishing a commercial agency nt Wash.
ingion. Parliament had already de-
| cidgd the question. The United States, he
continued, claimed exclusive Jurisdiction
in lchnng Sea- American aud Canadian
vessels had suffered equally from an az.
gnss.yc monopoly The question was not
local one. II was one that Affected all
inlrItimc nations which he Ole certain
would rcsi.t the in'qu.ious attempt Of tho
United States 10 claim liclfing Sca Eng
Julian Pauncuioic BE- felt sure, as British
Minister ut Washington. would do all In
his rover g. bring tho matter 10 termi.
nation. England had indorcd Cana,la's
claims recently admitted that the Amer.
can contentious were uulounlcd. II
tie United States Insisted upon w.
pWtgnsions grave complications would
arise What tho results would be he
dafrl not say. nor liI Dr. ,larp 10 think of
tho results Canada bad resisted her
wrongs. She would continue 30 resist
lhrm aud compensation was inevitable.
The Marquis ~ lhusdOWnc, Ex-Governor.
General oi Canada, took a warm interest
la tho question, aud when he went 10
England DO took with him statement
from thc Dominion Government Tho
speaker said be- felt that Sir Julian was
equal a. thc occasion.
sir Richard Cartwright took occasion 10
show What ho considered the necessity for
Canada demanding the establishment Of
an agency at Washington, ~ Canada alone
was unable to settle her grievances owing
10 inlcfminnbr delays in the foreign Of
hr'. Tie declared that the claims Of the
United states were absurd.
Mr. Weldon said the Americans claim
tina, nchnng Sea was mare clausum
aud blamed the government for delays In
pressing ior settlement
sir John Thompson. Minisicroi Justice,
followed. lie denied the truth OF asscr-
lions that Canada could appeal from the
Judgment of Alaskan courts. The matter
Oi appeal, he said, rested With the owners
OF the vessels aud hc was glad that they
preferred 70 claim compensation instead.