Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-15
THE SEAL FISHERY DISPUTE
Hon. Joseph Chamberlain Gives the
English View OF the Controversy.

Hon. Joseph Chamberlain Gives the
English View of the Controversy.
Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, NIP, of England
who has just arrived on American shores for q
respite of three months before the autumn ses-
sion Of parliament. Is now resting at the home
of his wife's father. ex-Secretary Of War Will
lam 2. Endicott, at Salem. Mass.
On being asked how the Behring sea contro-
versy concerning the seal fisheries was regarded
in England. Mr.. Chamberlain replied that when
he left home there had been but a brief tele-
graphic report of the correspondence between
Secretary Blaine and Lord Salisbury and on
that account the public mind had not been able
to form an opinion or receive any very definite
impression. He said:
$50 far as | myself understand the case there
seems TO be two leading features. First. that
the people of the United States demand some
arrangement for the protection of the seals
which they allege will be destroyed to point
dangerously near determination If unrestralned
fishing IL allowed. And. second. that there APP
pears to be some doubt IN their minds whether
TO set up claim for a closed sea. As to the
demand that the seals should be protected
there cannot possibly be any difference be-
tween the two nations. England Is not only
perfectly willing to preserve the seal fisheries
and Is ready at all times to accord every neces-
sary protection but she has, in fact, an especial
interest 20 do so. since more than 5000 people
IN London are employed in the curing and
dyeing of the sealskins. This Is open and
plain fact, and 1t seems 10 me strange that 1t
has been left out of account by the American
government III Its consideration of the case.
There cannot possibly be any ground for
quarrel-lt seems wrong TO use that word-but
even for any difference of opinion. If now or
al any time there occurs any mis- understanding.
though II be of the slightest, England is ever
ready 10 meet the United States in any reason
able way to settle disputes"
BEHRING NOT A CLOSED SEA.
As to the claim that has been set I'D by the
United States for a closed sea, Mr. Chamber
lain declared such position to be absolutely
unparalleled. he said with much earnest
''Behring'sea is no estuary or lake. II is an
immense open sea and cannot by any construc-
ton be claimed as a mare clausum. and il be-
longs not To one country. but to all the nations
OF the world. The claim which has partially
been set up by the United States Is especially
surprising since her eminent authorities on in
ternatlonal Law have always insisted with par
tcular emphasis upon the complete and uni
versa freedom of the high seas"
Mr.. Chamberlain was shown the following
excerpt from letter of Secretary Blaine to
Lord Salisbury:
Whence did the ships of Canada derive the
right TO do in 1856 that which they had re-
Trained from doing for more than thirty years?
Upon what grounds did her majesty's govern
ment defend III the year 1856 a course of con-
duct IN the Behring which she had care
fully avoided ever since the discovery of that
sea! SO great has been the injury to the fish,
cries by Canadian vessels that whereas the
government had allowed 100000 to be taken
annually for a series of years it is now COM
peeled to reduce the number to o.. 900. If four
years Of violation of natural law and neigh
bors rights had reduced the annual slaughter
OF seal by 40 per cent, 1t IS easy to see how
short a period Will be required to work the
totai extinction Of the fisheries.
The ground upon which her majesty's gov
eminent justlfieS or at least defends the course
OF the Canadian vessels rests upon the fact that
they are committing their acts of destruction
on the high seas. viz, more than three marine
leagues from the shore line Ii is doubtful
whether her majesty's government would abide
by this rule II the attempt were made to inter-
fere with the pearl fisheries of Ceylon which
extends more than twenty miles from the shore
line, and have been enjoyed by England with
out mOlestatiOn ever since their acquisition:
nor Is II credltAble that modes of fishing on
the Grand Banks, altogether practicable but
highly destructive, would be justified or even
permitted by Great Britain on the plea that the
vicious acts were committed more than three
miles from shore"
THE CEYLoN PEARLS.
After reading the above carefully, Mr. Cham
berlain thought a moment before replying.
Then referring first to the latter portion of the
question, he said:
Why, the consideration which Mr.. Blaine
makes here regarding the attitude which Great
BrlIain would take If any attempt were made
10 interfere with the pearl fisheries of Ceylou
l. based upon purely hypothetical assump-
NON IEe fact that the pearl fisheries Of Cey-
Ion have been enjoyed by England without
mo.estat!on ever since their acquisition does
not by any means signify that she either re-
CARDS now, OF IN an event similar to that of the
present Bchring sea difficulty would regard
the waters Of that place as her mare cIausum
and the same Is true of the fisheries ON the
Grand Banks. l think it would be more prou,r
for such consideration to be made when the
question should arise. As TO the extent of the
injury which Is here said TO have been done 10
the seal fisheries by Canadian vessels II seems
% me that, since both the United States and
England are alike interested to preserve ard
protect the fisheries, the question is one. NO,
80 much for Secretary Blaine and Lord Sails
bury 10 decide as 1t Is for scientific experts in
the matter"
IL Was suggested to Mr.. Chamberlain that be.
sides the rights of international law there was
the argument OF bonOs mores, which had been
insisted on rs applicable to the present ease
Mr.. Chamberlain replied:
Yes, certainly, but the issue hinges l1pon 4
different term. There are national and inter.
national cOurtesics and concessions are often
and rightly made to preserve anity but to de.
mAnd as right differs very materially from re.
questing as a favor and offense against 4
legal right Is far from being the same as AN
oifense contra ainicitiam. Canada, in her ish.
cries difficulty, which was OF not dissimIla,
nature 10 that of the BehEing sea- did not pre-
sumo 20 assert right, bat merely ask II favor
and there she showed discretion which nigh
well serve a precedent for the present con
troyersy."
Every and ieoDs0n residing ia Soufh H,dsi,
t'gtOn should sign Of tie petition IriI.tcd i,