New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-31
THE NEWS OF EUROPE.
yEHRING SEA LEGISLATION BEFORE THE
BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

ENG-PARLI AMENTARY ToPICs-IRE-
LANp-THE PARIS STRIKE
Personal LITERARY.
eyY CABLE TO THE TxIBUSEI
Copyright; 1891 BIZ TIE Tribune Assftd"on-
London Nav 3O.-The BehTing Sea bill, read
resterday the first time in the House of Com
mons is understood TO be measure to carry
,ut the policy agreed on between England and
she United States no authentic account of such
an agreement has yet been made public here.
The bill is described as bill TO enable the Queen
by Order in Council to make special provision
for prohibiting the catching of seals in Behring Sea
bv the Queens subjects during certain periods
As the Canadians are still Her Maiesty's subjects
they will. perhaps, consider this prohibition as
addressed to them They like the Newfoundland
ers, are objects of solicitude on the part
of the Foreign Office, even more than of the
Colonial Office.
Mr.. Dalziel has had the honesty to transmit, and
sThe Times" has had the honesty to publish, what
purports to he Mr.. Blaine's comment on the
recent inventions about his health, bodily and
mental. He refers to the cowardly blow, dealt
him in such an unspeal<able and despicable man
ner" The words are strong, but not too strong
Neither Mr.. Dalziel nor "The Times" has offered
Mr.. Blaine that public apology which is due to
him from both
The Maa Vita trial, and the sentences on 165
prisoners, supply an interesting commentary on
the New-Orleans business, as well as on the con-
ditions of life in Southern Italy. There is no
reason to suppose that Bari is the only Italian
centre of murerous conspiracy, is it clear that
Italian public opinion is very strong against either
conspiracy or conspirators. These scoundrels get
off with eight to fifteen years imprisonment apiece
Anywhere but in Italy many of them would GER
tainly have been hanged Yet we are told that
the sentences are considered too severe
recent letter in "The Times" may be read
with profit in connection with the same subject
The writer comments on the progressive woman
isbness of the Italian Parliament, and that LA
bility to unreasoning emotion which has always
marked the Italians after long periods of peace
We have had only too many samples of it, The
act Of tine Italian Prime Minister in withdrawing
Baron Fava from Washington looked then like
mere personal petulance. but it petulance
in which all Italy is now seen TO share. No hint
of Baron Fava's return has been given publicly,
nor any sign of penitence for an act which no
diplomatic precedent justiies. Yet still the
American minister remains at Rome.
Professor Bryce is the true author of the New
who found solution of the parliamentary diff
6oulties due to the mistakes of Ministers and to
the party spirit of the opposition impersonated in
this instance by Sir William Harcourt The sub
stance of the compromise had, OF course, been
agreed to by the Ministers one side and by the
Newfoundland delegates the other. The diff
fculty was to put il in parliamentary shape. Mr..
Smith thought it necessary that the Colonial Co
ercion bill should be read a second time upon
that proposal. Sir William Harcourt delivered one
of the most violent speeches heard in the
House this many day. well calculated
10 feed TIE fame which already burns
quite fercely enough in the Avalon peninsula
II he had wanted to provoke Colonial dsaffection,
10 prevent an agreement between Newfoundland
and the Home Government, and TO create fresh
troubles with France, he would not have spoken
otherwise than as he did. l do not suppose he
wanted that. He wanted to score point for his
Marty He stirred up the Radicals, and Mr.
Picton, one of the least wise among them, moved
an adjournment of debate. That would have left
everything uncertain, and was defeated by seventy
three majority. But tempers had got up on Doth
sides. and it was seen that mischief was likely to
occur had the bill been pressed. There sat Sir
William Whiteway and his fellow-delegates be.
meath the gallery of the House, noting what passed
and certain TO report il at ST. Johns. Debate went
on. each speech less judiciOus than the other
Then Professor Bryce intervened. He proposed
what was equivalent TO an Order of the Day, as
used in the French and other Continental Cham
bers-we should call it resolution,-that, taking
note that Newfoundland had agreed to prolong
the modus vivendi and to enact a measure for
CARRYING out the obligations of the treaty till the
end of 1898, this House therefore postpones the
second reading of the bill. Mr.. Smith accepted
this with a slight notification it passed unani-
mously, and the crisis was over. 1t is great
Opposition victory, screams a Gladstonian organ.
Ii is nothing of the kind. The Opposition leader
came near securing great Opposition defeat and
something worse Professor Bryce saved Sir Will
lam Harcourt from the consequences Of his mis-
take and secured for the Ministry, for England
and for Newfoundland, sensible arrangement of
the whole business
Newfoundland nevertheless is far from being
ont Of the woods. Her very able delegates have
done the best that could be done, and have Sc
cured better terms than anybody expected a week
since But the necessity of keeping faith with
France is inst as imperative ever. Lord Sails
bury pointed out last night in the House of Lords
that it is not yet certain that arbitration Will
proceed He might have added that no progress
whatever had been made toward an agreement.
Upon all these disputed matters lying outside the
present arbitration, Newfoundland stands pledged
10 good behavior till 1898, and the House OF
Commons stands pledged to legislate then If New
toundland does not make her present act perma-
nent France for her part clearly means to be
disagreeable and to keep open the Newfoundland
lore as long she can
The capture of the Regent of Senaputty at once
raise@ up champions for him in England. lhere
is in this country school of politicians who hoid
that whatever England docs in her depenoencies
is wrong, and that all acts OF force are wicked
This school composed for the most pafe Vi
Socialists Radicals. Irish politicians, and humani-
tarians 10 whom all shedding of blood Is re-
pugnant. One Of them asked in the House OF
Commons on Monday whether the Government
would promise that nobody should be put TO deatn