New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-02

| barOus ''~~
DELAY I'm submitting the question to Parliament owit
rorv a. o,rses which those who had experience IN
| dipIomatic negotiations would understand ana Paru,
| TO the illness of the Canadian Premier, WHO hau
earned the respect Of everybody VINO had any h"o"
edge OF the services he had rendered 10 "ie h"p"'
at large (Cheers.l There would be only one ieehhe
that Of sorrow-that HE SO 'ai""Oie s9e'u "oo"
| 10 end. {" Hear, hearD
| Tho consent ~ the Dominion Government was sub
cct IN certain conditions which appeared to be rcas
onable one being that ships fitted out under the
British nag for lawful fishing in Behring Sea be com
pensatcd for loss during the period OF prohibition
Under the bill, sealing is prohibited simply within
Behring sea. The effect will be greatly diminished
catch OF seals and great rise I'm the price OF skins
obtained south Of Behring Sea- The prohibition VIII
continue until 1892. within which time it was ex-
| pected the arbltrators would make an award. 1t
was not proposed that order be issued, unless
Russia also consented TO entire prohibition WITHIN
Behrng Sea. Compensation would depend upon the
actual loss a shipowner sustained. Taking INTO acr
count the increased value Of fisheries outside Oh
Behrng sea, that could be ascertalned only by a
ompahson arrangements for which were as yet In
complete. There was every reason to hope for the
cooperation of Canada in making the necessary reg
ulations. {" Hear, hear!'
Tho speaker did not urge the House TO accept The
bill on the ground OF absolute right or OF absolute
justice, but friendly act to friendly Power.
He hoped a would be adopted that would lead
to settlement Of a question that had given concern
to successive Governments for long time. He was
sure that as In the case of the North Sea contention
the House would gladly concur In arrangements
necessary for such purpose. tCheers.)
Sir william Vernon Harcourt agreed with Mr. Smith
that serious misunderstanding between England and
the United States would be a great calamity. The
Government would always receive the support Of the
Opposition in referring international questions to
hitraff Tha patr nOC Gan mod
Others to be one lending itself to arbitration therefore
he had nothing to say except to express satisfaction
with the adopted 1t was satisfactory TO iind
Canada party to the arrangement. This essential
lie would not enter into details OF subordinate I'M
portance. He desired to associate himself with the
language Of Mr. Smith in regard TO Sir John Macdonald
staveley Hill, Conservative approved the arrange
ment embraced In the BILL although he thought the
close time for seas-from October to June Goodnight
to prevail outside Of Behrlng Sea as well as within It,
It mistake to suppose that seals within Behring
sea specially in danger Of determination On the
contrary his information showed the likelihood Of there
being seals in Behrng Sea this year than there
had been seen there in long time.
Mr.. Chamberlain said he heard with great satls-
faction the arrangement obtained from tho United
States Dir. Smith had only referred to the assent OF
Russia for close time. The speaker understood the
German flag also had been seen in Behring Sea. lie
hoped the Government would ascertain what was the
position of maritime Nations toward the question He
wanted 10 know whether the subjects for arbitration
were agreed upon with the United States and whether
that Power had Withdrawn its startling claims TO
the almost exclusive possession of Behrlng Sea. Would
the arbitration be confined 70 precautions TO preserve
the sealsi The question Of compensation was OF
minor Importance still, he could not help thinking
that it was rather hard that this should fall on the
British taxpayer Any claims for compensation ought
TO be closely watched, for many vessels which IL was
proposed to compensate were American, and repre-
scented an American interest which worked against the
United States Government under the Canadian flag
No compensation ought to be paid unless clear proof
was produced that the vessels claiming compensation
were really Canadian vessels.
George Osborne Morgan, Sir George Campbell, Sir
George Baden Powell and Mr. Bryce approved the issue
OF the negotiations
Sir James Ferguson, Under Foreign Secretary, said
that the Government had every to be satisfied
with the Houses reception Of the bill. They might be
well assured when Canada assented to the arrangement
There abundant evidence OF great diminut0n
sea- and II was now necessary to prevent their whole
concerned not only With the respective rights
in Behring Sea, but also with measures TO pre-
serve the seals overtures had been made to Russia
for the fixing of close time. Although no answer
had as yet been received, it known that Russia
some time ago was favorable to such measure. The
Government assented with reluctance 10 the proposal
year. The arrangement a temporary one for the
removal OF the OF difficulty pending arbitration
The matters to be referred to arbitration were still
the subject Of correspondence, but the two Govern
ments steadily approached points OF agreement and he
believed that reply which was about TO be addressed
to the United States Government would bring them
closely together that harmonious reference would soon
be obtained.
The bill was then read the second time.