Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-01-06
ENGLAND IS UNEASY
The Behring Sea Controversy
Regarded as Serious.
WAR MIGHT EASILY RESULT.
London Papers Comparing the Pacific
Squadrons Of Both Countries.

British Naval and Military An liberties
Are Reserved on the subject-The For
eIgn once Denies the Correctness of
Newspaper Reports-The Issue Rests
with.the President and Mr.. Blaipo.
LONDON, Jan. 6-England has suddenly
awakened to a sense of the seriousness
of the situation arising out of the I'M
settled points in the Behring Sea contro-
versy between the British and American
governments. There is accordingly an
eruption of press comment and general
discussion on the subject.
The concensus of opinion seems to be
that Mr.. Blaine is merely indulging in
game of bluff, with an eye to the i'm
provement of his Presidential chances.
The English people are firmly imbued
with the belief that Mr.. Blaine does
everything with the Presidency in view.
Well informed persons of influence do
not deny, however, that war might very
easily result from the existing complica-
tious, no matter what the causes leading
TO the complications have been in the
past. The naval and military authorities
are reserved on the subject.
An Evasivs Statement.
The statement made public by the
Foreign Office, denying the correctness of
the wild and multifold newspaper yarns
floating about, does not give any infor-
nation upon which to base an estimate
of the real state of the correspondence
on the question. 1t does not even deny
that Mr.. Blaine accompanied his arbitra-
ton proposition of December Both with
an open or covert threat of something to
be done in case of the rejection of the
suggestion. Very little stress is laid
here upon American newspaper express
sions, it being considered that the issue
really rests with the American President
and Secretary Blaine.
No War Preparations.
No unusual preparations are being
made at the English dockyards as these
are already fully occupied in the build
ing and equipment of vessels of war, it
being the intention of the British Gov
eminent to make the fleet as strong as
that of any other two naval powers COM
bined. A leading naval officers says
that he does not anticipate a conflict;
but that the British navy had never
been better prepared in its history to
uphold the honor of the British flag. A
reporter attempted to interview Lord
| George Hamilton on the Behring Sea
question. His Lordship declined to ex-
press an opinion, other than to remark
| that the British force in the North Pa
cific was considered ample to protect
British interests. Another Admiralty
official remarked that he saw no cause
for alarm in any event; that the War
spite was equal to fleet of wooden
ships.
What the Newspapers Say.
The St. James Gazette refers to the
| temper of the Americans as serious, and
says it is an alarming question how long
the present condition of security can
| last.
The Pail Mall Gazette ridicules the
notion that war may result, but says
that even a war on paper is calamity,
| involving as it does strained relations
between countries which ought to DO on
| the best of terms.
| The Star rather upholds Mr.. Blaine,
and scouts the idea that England will go
to war with her American kin sfolk in
order to assist the Canadians to massa-
ere the fur seals.