Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-25
THE BEHRING SEA PROBLEM.

PHILADELPHIA Press: Under these pro-
posals, apparently intended to force the United
States into an unfriendly attitude, Mr.. Blaine
falls back upon the free offer originally made
by Great Britain of maintenance for a single
season, pending arbitration, of the prohibition
of ocean sealing. which has existed for 80 years.
More than this we need not ask; less than this
we cannot accept with dignity.
PHILADELPHIA Times: The correspondence
relating to the seal fisheries is very interesting
and quite inconclusive. Like most diplomatic
correspondence 1t is entirely disingenuous. 1t
is a verbal fencing match, in which each party
tries to evade the others attack and to draw
his antagonist into vulnerable position. The
game is still going on. 1t cannot be said that
either side has an advantage thus far or that
either side manifests any burning desire to
reach a definite conclusion.
PHILADELPHIA Record: 1t is evident, from
the tenor of the negotiations. that both parties
are agreed as to the necessity of protecting the
seals from deep-sea pirates and from invasions
of the breeding grounds by marauders who kill
recklessly and without regard for the future.
Yet the British Government proposes to stand
by the piratical sealers of Canada, while Secre-
tary Blaine evinces determination to assert
and maintain at all hazards the exclusive
rights of American seal fishers in Alaskan
waters.
NEW YORK Herald: Secretary Blaine's part
in the correspondence sent to the House yes
terday is hardly calculated to add to his diplo-
matte laurels. Either the United States has
exclusive jurisdiction in Behring Sea OF it has
not. The correspondence Is not yet concluded.
Let us hope that the discussion will turn from
one of right to one of policy. Both sides are
agreed as to the value of the seal fisheries and
the Importance of their protection. The in
terests of both the United States and England
will be best served by satisfactory agreement
for protection.
NEW YORK Times: So the matter is left in
a very unpromising condition. The two gov
ernments are further from agreement than they
appeared to be two years ago Canadian YES
sells are left, with the encouragement Of the
British Government to continue their slaugh-
ter of seals in Behring Sea, while the officers of
our revenue cutters are under instructions to
seize any vessels found engaged in that busi-
ness The situation, as disclosed by the diplo-
matte correspondence, ia anything but reassur-
ing, and there is great danger that the compli-
cation may become still more serious.
NEW YORK Tribune: We bought those seal;
we paid for them; we have nourished and pro-
tected them; our people here and in Alaska OBJ
tain a living from them; they are source of
national revenue-and British statesmen are
unwontedly dull IL they imagine that we are
going to lose all this simply to enable few
persons in British Columbia. without right or
interest to wrest illegal fortunes during the
few years that remain before they shall have
utterly exterminated the seal herd. This will
not be tolerated, and Lord Salisbury cannot too
promptly convince himself Of that fact