Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-02
AN URGENT QUESTION
The Bering Sea Bill in the
British Commons.
1t Passes Second Reading With
out Opposition.
Blaine's Latest Proposition Received
with Favor.
Russia to Be Consulted in the Premises
A Tribute to Canada's
Dying Premier.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press DISPATCHES.
LONDON, June LIN the commons to
day, Smith moved that the Bering sea
bill be read the second time. Smith
said the bill dealt with question of ur.
gency, and was prompted by the desire
that arrangements of an amicable char
acter should be made to settle the dis
pute. He was sure that the parties
would agree that it was better the diff
ference be determined by friendly srbi-
tration than by more barbarous meth
DDS. There had been delay in submit
ting the question to parliament, owing
partly to causes which those who had
experience in diplomatic negotiations
would understand, and partly to the ILL
ness of the Canadian premier, who had
earned the respect of everybody who
had any knowledge of the services he
had rendered to the empire at large
| TCheers.] There could be but one feel
| ing, that of sorrow, that life so valua-
BILE seemed about to end. ["Heari
Hearp1 The consent of the Dominion,
subject to certain conditions, appeared
to be reasonable, one being that ships
fitted out under the British flag for law
full fishing in Bering sea be compensated
for loss during the period of prohibition.
Under the bill sealing is prohibited
simply in Bering sea. The effect will
be greatly diminished catch of seals,
and great rise in the prise of skins
obtained south of Bering sea. The pro-
hibition will continue until 1892, within
which time it was expected the arbitra-
ors would make an award. 1t was not
proposed that the order would be issued
unless Russia also consented to entire
prohibition, within Bering sea-. Com
pensation would depend entirely upon
the actual loss a ship-ower sustained.
There was every reason to hope for the
cooperation OF Canada.
Harcourt agreed with Smith that a.
serious misunderstanding between
Great Britain and the United
States would be a great .calam-
ity. The government would always
receive the support OF; the opposition
arbitration. The BeFing sea dispute
seemed above all others. to be one tend
ing itself to arbitration. Therefore, he
had nothing to say except to express
satisfaction with the course adopted. 1t
was satisfactory to find Canada party
to the arrangement. This was essen
tial
Sill Conservative approved the ar
rangement, although he thought close
time for seals ought, from October 1st
to June 30th, to prevail outside of
Bering sea, as we'll as within. 1t was a
mistake to suppose that the seals with
in Bering sea were specially in danger
of determination. On the contrary his
information showed a likelihood OF there
being more seals in Bering sea this year
than for long period.
Chamberlain hoped the government
would ascertain the position of the mar
itime nations toward the question. He
wanted to 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 posses
sion of Bering sea. Would the arbitra-
tion be confined to precautions to pre-
serve the seals. The question of COM
pensation was of minor importance.
Still, he could not help thinking it was
hard that this should fall on British tax
payers. No compensation ought to be
paid unless clear proof is produced that
the vessels were really Canadian vessels.
George Osborne Morgan, Sir George
Campbell, Sir George Baden Howell
and Mr.. Bryce approved the issue of
negotiations.
Sir James Ferguson, under foreign
secretary, said the arbitration would be
concerned not only with the respective
rights of England, the United States
and Canada in Bering sea, but also with
measures to preserve the seals. Over
fr1p hoH 10 10 for 1o
fixing of close time. Although no
answer had been received it was known
that Russia some time ago was favorable
to such measure. The government
assented with reluctance to the United
States proposal, that 1900 seals
be taken this year. The ar
rangement was q temporary one for
the removal of the source of difficulty
pending arbitration. The matters to be
referred to arbitration were still the
subject of correspondence, but the two
governments steadily approached points
of agreement, and he believed the reply
which was about to be addressed to the
United States government would bring
them 30 closely together that harmo-
nious reference would soon be obtained.
The bill was then read the second
time.
FERGUSON, secretary of foreign affairs,
referring to the warning by the French
naval officers at st. Pierre not to allow
bait to be sold to United States fisher
men, said: "It does not appear to be an
infraction of the treaty of 1918 with the
United States, but constitutes interfer-
ence with the rights OF British subjects
and is an assumption OF jurisdiction in
consistent with the rights of the British
crown, therefore the government has
brought the matter to the attention Of
France"
A Fire In Oregon.
HUNTINGTON, Ore, June Shortly