The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-26
THE LETTERS EDlTORIaLLY REVIEWED.
Esteemed English Contemporaries
on tho 7ehrIng Sea Dispute,
The Toronto Mall Presents Canada's
Right To Be Hoard.
A Dominion Ilne Steamer Pounding
on an AntlcostI Reef.

TORONTO, Ont, July 25.-Regardlng the
Behring sea correspondence, the Mail this
morning says: "There Is little that Is new
In the official documents, the contents Of
which are thus made public. the fact being
that outlines Of them, published by the press
from time TO time, were remarkably correct
II will be seen, however, that there was
small foundation for tho reports as to threats
Of war, which sensational journals at various
times served up to their readers. Sensation
manufacturers across the line, however, are
In the habit Of making much out Of little.
Their latest production is new war scare,
based upon the fact that the disgraced Sec
ond Battalion Grenadier Guards Is being
sent to Bermuda.
THE correspondence contains compare
lively little with reference to the question
Of jurisdiction In Behring sea. While Secre-
tary Blaine cannot be said TO have aban-
doned the contention that the sea Is a mare
elausium, he has thought best to attach more
Importance to the argument that seal fishing
in those waters by Canadians Is against the
rights Of good government, and good morals,
the world over. He likens Shooting and
catching seals In Behring sea to the use Of
dynamite on the Grand Banks. and asks
whether Her Majesty's government. though
1t has no more jurisdiction over the cod fish
CAACo th0u OtuCA WOulQ al
low the preparation OF so great wickedness
without taking steps to punish the guilty
parties. But there Is another way Of putting
such case. What, we may ask him, would
he do II Her Malestesty's government were
to seize aud cunfscate United States vessels.
engaged Ia killing cod on the Banks Ia the
manner described. A vigorous protest from
washington would undoubtedly follow.
I'VE muSt-uOt omit to call attention to Mr..
Blalne's strange attitude with regard TO the
Domlnion's right to be consulted In the mat
ter. He represents his government as hav-
ing been panied at Lord Sallsbury's alleged
coneealment Of the fact that no arrangement
could be made, ,unles Canada cOncurred In IL.
Mr.. Blaine's remOnstrance comes queerly
from leading statesman of a country which
broke away from Great Britain for the very
reason that the latter paid too little atten-
tion to her wishes. Looking lat the whole
correspondence, we are unable TO see that
matters are much further advanced, IL at ALL
than they were year ago.
'Mr. Blaine closes his last letter with the
announcement that his government desires
nothing more than that Great Britain shall
act up TO the understanding arrived at be-
tween Lord Salisbury and Mr.. Phelps on
February 25, 1888. The establishment Of a
close season between April Is aud Nov 1,
however, would shut Canadians out OF the
seal-fshing industry altogether, and certain
ly would not meet the views Of this country
We fail to see, therefore, provided Canada's
wishes are to be respected, that the CORES
pondence and the negotiations Of last winter
have advanced matters at all"