Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-25
NOTHING BUTA BLUFF
Capital Statesmen Not Alarmed by
the British Attitude Upon
THAT BEHRING SEA TROUBLE,
1t Can be Settled by Arbitration Even if
Diplomacy Fails.
NEITHER COUNTRY ANXIOUS TO FIGHT
rrRoM A STAFF coRREspoNpENr.,

rFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, July 24.-The pu blica-
tion of the correspondence between this
Government and that of Great Britain rela-
tive to the Behring Sea dispute has aroused
much interest here. Considerable comment
was occasioned by the apparently belliger-
ent attitude assumed by the British repre-
sentatives. but the general drift of opinion
is to the effect that that tone was assumed
more for diplomatic effect than for any
reason of grayer moment.
In other words England is credited, when
her representatives talk about holding the
United States responsible for any further
seizures, with desire to witness the effect
of a "bluf." No one doubts that Sec
retary Blaine is fully capable of maintain
ing the prestige of this country, or that
matters will eventually be settled peace
fully and without bloodshed.
NEGOTIATIONS IN PROGRESS.
The negotiations between the two govern
ments are still progressing, and the resources
of diplomacy are capable of being sub
jected to a much greater strain than this
controversy has yet produced before there Is
an open rupture. A gentleman occupying
a high position id the House of Representa-
tives and who is also intimately associated
with the head of the State Department and
other diplomatic sources of information, but
who for that very reason does not desire to be
quoted personally, said to-day to THE DIS
PATCH correspondent: II don't think there is
any immediate cause for alarm. 1 be-
heve, and the recent course of events
seem to support my belief, that an un-
QerStalQlQP been reaChAd he
State Department and the British Government,
by which there will be no further poaching on
our seal preserves by British or Canadian seal
ers, and consequently no more seizures of
British vessels, until the questions at issue be-
tween the two countries have been amicably
adjusted The sealing season is now nearly
over and so 1ar there has been no poaching or
seizure reported from Behring Sea, SO con-
clude that the two powers have mutually
agreed to keep ''hands off" pending settle
ment There is no doubt that this is the wise
course to pursue. for to have fresh causes of
disagreement arising day after day at this
iuncture could not fail TO be mutually irritat-
ing and to increase the difficulties of reaching
a friendly understanding.
TICKLE LORD SALISBURY.
Il am very glad that the correspondence has
been published From perusal of it tho pub
lie will be better able to appreciate the situa-
tton. 1t shows that at one time in 1883 Lord
Salisbury was perfectly ready to admit the
truth of all our arguments and to conclude an
agreement on the lines upheld by Secretary
Blaine. But lust as 1t appeared that everything
was satisfactorily settled, Lord Salisbury drew
back suddenly. He had heard from Canada.
1t Is unquestionably true that at the time
negotiations between this country and England
upon this subject were abruptly broken off.
After their subsequent renewal Lord Sails
bury was not nearly SO cOmplaisant. He de-
manded more and was willing to grant less to
the United States, and he is now trying to se-
cure an agreement with us on basis of just
hQ u1s sVuitI inrr to- TIL
ONE OF the prettiest pieces of dialetical writing
In diplomatic correspondence i have ever seen
Is that part of to-day's publication where Mr..
Blaine picks up Lord Salisbury on his garbIed
quotation from John Quincy Adams This
correspondence also shows what the real claims
OF the United States are-not that the whole
commerce of the United States but that the
seal fisheries within that sea belon exclusively
to the United States and must not be poached
upon by unauthorized persons. The simile
which Mr. Blaine uses of the British pearl
fisheries on the coast of Ceylon is almost a |
parallel case.
THE QUESTION AT ISSUE
1.-THE question at issue is whether we can |
make such a preserve OF these wild animals |
and punish these poachers who take our seals
without our permission. For we claim that
they belong to us. whether found on the breed
ing islands or in the open sea, because we |
bought and paid for them when we purchased |
question, and that proposition would un.
be agreed to by this coutry IL our |
position was taken as the. modus vivendi. |
There should be no difficulty in arbitrating the |
point as to whether a man should be permitted |
to live on his own farm, his cattle. his sheep, |
his dogs or his seals"
Representative McCreary. of Kentucky. a
Democratic member of the House Committee |
on Foreign Affairs, said that he believed the |
subject would be eventually settled by arbitra-
tion. "lf. said he, IAN amicable settlement of
diplomatic correspondence, England and the |
United States. knowing each others powers SO
we'll, will not seek war, but will submit the |
matter to the proper arbitrators."
Representative Farquhar, Chairman of the |
Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fish
cries, which year ago held a lengthy investi-
CATION into the fur seal fisheries of Alaska, said
that couple of years ago, before he had ex-
amined into the subject, he had felt little un-
easiness about the trouble that might possibly |
arise over this question.
NOTHING OFFENSIVE MEANT.
Nov. however" said he, II am sure that En- |
gland means nothing offensive The matter
won't even come to arbitration, in my opinion,
but will just drift along in statu quo OF |
course. there will be a letter occasionally pass
Ing between the State Department and the |
British legation, They will have to do that.
you know, for appearances sake. England |
now gets as much from the Behring Sea seal |
fisheries as does the United States. London is |
the center OF the fur curing trade of the world
and British workmen get dollal for dollar with |
the United States from the fisheries. England |
IS not going to destroy that source of income. |
Her diplomacy is in her purse. She knows
better than to cut of so profitable source of |
trade as the Behring Sea seal fisheries have
been to her. Oh, no; there may be some diplo-
matte reason behind her attitude on this ques-
ton, but it will not injure the interests of the
United States in those waters. By the way the |
phrase which makes some people nervous In
this correspondence, Her Britanic Majesty's |
must hold the Government of the
United States responsible for the consequences
etc. is not SO bloodtbirsty as it appears. 1t
has the same Significance in diplomacy as the
lawyers phrase, I reserve that point"
A DELICATE NATURE.
Representative Chapman, Of Michigan, be-
ieved that the situation in Europe was of too
delicate a nature to permit England to embroil
herself with the United States just now. Rep
Stahlnecker, of New York, admits
that his State would be largely the battle
ground in case of war, but does not believe
here is any danger of j ructiOn. He says:
England cannot fight the United States, for
The reason that the two nations are naturally
he peacemakers between the large powers of