Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-06
THE BEHRINa SEA INCIDENT.
Neither Government Knows Anything
Officially About IL,

LIVELY COMMENTS OF THE CANADIAN PRESS An,
BRITISH oFFIcIAts-coSsuL STEVENS THINK
THERE Is NO CAUSE FOB ALAnM-sENAToI
HALE SAYS rHEaE's NO DANCER OF WAR.
The Black Diamond seizure ia still the sub
Jet Of much comment, though neither tn,
Canadian nor this government has received
any official report upon the subject. In Canals
the seizure is regarded a. genuine one, blu,
officials express themselves as ignorant Of the
alleged departure Of British war vessels 70,
Behring sea-
ID. w. Higgins, MP, from Victoria, B. c.. says
upon the subject: "In the face of the President's
proclamation, false and misleading as it is, the
United States must either recede from their
absurd, unrignteous claim, or go ahead, seveu
though the peaceful relations of the two coun-
tries are smashed. The attitude Of the WASH
ington government is untenable and out
rageous."
John Grant, NJ. p, mayor of Victoria. saws:
"hlie the contention and acts of the govern
ment OF the United States as to control over
Behrlng sea in connection with the sealing in
anstry are unwarranted and extraordinary, the
lack OF action by the British government on
the same question is more culpable and
prompts one to ask If the subjects of the do
minion of Canada are under the protection of
tne Drltlsh nag or not
Robert Ward, president of the British
Columbia board OF trade, says: '"Iho tardy
settlement of the claims of the schooners
seized by the United States and the recent
capture of the Black Diamond have combined
In producing a strong feeling of disgust and
irritation which it might be difficult to restrain
unless steps are at once taken to prevent a
repetition of outrages on the British bottoms
engaged in lawful pursuits on the high seas"
CANADIAN PRESS COMMENTS
The Ottawa papers are silent about the Black
Diamond escape, but on all sides the good luck
Of the crew in getting back to Victoria gives
satisfaction. The ministers will not talk on the
subject until they get report.
The Ctttzen government organ) saws: ssTo
claim exclusive jurisdiction oTer the high seas
by reason of congressional edict or presiden-
tial signature is a spuerile as though a measure
had been passed giving the Washington mag
mates control over the heavenly Constitutions.
because the late scientist Prof. Proctor, dis
covered new star in the armament If iuris-
dlctlon existed over Behring sea and all the
seals having existence therein, why is it that
no such claim has been made or such right as
serted until 1889? The answer is self-eyident
and the Canadian government we are satisfied
VIII not permit either American or imperial in
terests to play battledore and shuttlecock with
our national privileges"
The Toronto Globe says: "The Black Dia-
monds adventure reads like a Joke Its a pity
the joke had not been completed as il proba-
bly, would have been had Capt. Thomas found a
British man-of-war at Ounalaska. To put a
hne finish on the farce, Washington should
claim damages because the Black Diamond car
ried John Hawkins, representative of WASHING
ton authority, into Victoria. Probably even
Uncle Sans cheek is not colossal enough to
enable him to make demand for the surren-
DER OF the escaped vessel. OF course Downing
street should instantly seek satisfaction for the
Piratical conduct of the Rush. but after all that
has been done in Behring sea nobody can seri-
ously imagine that Lord Salisbury's govern
ment viii make any spirited demand on Mr.
Harrison's."
HIaH-HANDED SEIZURE.
The London Tunes holds that there is not n
particle of justification for the '.high-handed
seizure Of the Canadian sealer Black Diamond
1t says: NO statute of Congress can bind En-
gllsh citizens beyond the territorial waters of
America without the consent of England The
seizure Is contrary to international law and
comfy. In conclusionit says: The nations
good sense and the love of justice of the Ameri
can people can be relied on to assist in the set
tiement OF question that ought never to have
been raised"
CONSUL STEVENS VIEWS.
Robert j. Stevens, United States consul at
victoria, who Is now in San Francisco speaking
OF the seizure of the Black Diamond. saws.
The owners of Victoria sealers who are the
only persons directly interested are naturally
exercised about this matter, but outside of
them do not think the people north of us are
greatly alarmed or excited over this affair
The action of our government is entirely har-
monlous with the act of 1870 and the later act
OF 1889, which, all know. is declaratory
act, and do not see but that our government
mas acted perfectly right in the matter. The
only Danger that may arise from this affair
may be skirmish with fatal results between
crews of sealers and United States revenue
cutters. Victoria sealers are as a rule manned
by Indian hunters, and they are equipped with
guns and ammunition. They are personally
interested in this affair. as they share in the
catch OF seals, and for this reason might bring
about conflict with the men on revenue cut
tiers. do not think that any of the owners Of
sealing vessels contemplated or do now con-
ment by the revenue cutter Rush Of the acts of
Our government"
WHAT SENATOR HALE SAYS
In an interview at Ellsworth, Me-, yesterday.
on the Behring sea matter, the Hon. Eugene
Hale, member Of the Senate committee on our
relations with Canada, said that his committee
dld not take testimony on the Behring sea
question while on the Pacific coast He said:
The committee felt that the subject was i'm
medlately IN the hands of the State depart
ment and is likely to be the subiect-matter of
negotiation with the foreign Office of the Brit
lsh government. For this reason though the
subject Is peculiarly within the scope of the
Sonhuil'tSSt IL WAS not deemed advisable to
open the question in advance of any negotia-
ton that might be Set ON foot by the executive
department of either government The COM
mittee did not ind agitation or excited feeling
upon the subject. either in our own territory
or IN British Columbia, and may say for nv
self, not claiming to speak for the committee.
that came away from Victoria more than ever
impressed with tbs ew that no serious trouble is
hkely to arise between Great Britain and the
United states on account of any local feeling
either side OF the line on this question L do
not see that the State department is necessarily
confronted with the question of the Behring
waters being closed sea. and do not under
stand that. whatever may happen in the future.
any apnouneement, ohiciai or otherwise has
been made committing our government to that
proposition That efficient measures will be
taken TO protect the fisheries, especially the
seal IN these waters, can well believe and
DO not IN such step see anything offensive to
Canada or England and, indeed il would seem
that such measures would be in the common
interest Of all Deighboring peoples. II any late
transact tons In the Behring waters give rise TO
negotiations on this last basis see no reason
why these negotiations may not be conducted
To harmonious end without at all raising the
quesuo OF closed sea, and shall expect in
such a case the good sense and good fortune
which has characterized the present
administration, and espe ,iaIlv tbe
conduct Of the State department. in
the Samoan controversy, will bring forth sat
isfactOry solution. i am under M alarm, o. q