The morning call., 1891-06-02
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The Seal Fisheries Bill Debated an
Read

Read.
LONDON, June 2.--In the House of Com
mons to-day Smith moved that the Behring
Sea bill be read a second time. Smith
said the bill dealt with ques-
ton of urgency, and was prompted
by desire that arrangements OF
an amica6le character should be made to
settle the dispute. He was sure both
parties would agree that it was better the
difference should be determined by friendly
arbitration than by more harGarous
methods. There had been delay
In submitting the question to Parliament
owing partly to causes which those who
had experience in Diplomatic ne9Ota-
tiOns would understand, and partly
to the illness of the Canadian Prem
ier, who had earned the respeet
of everybody who had anv knowledge OF the
services ne had rendered to the Empire at
large. There would be but one feeling.
that Of sorrow. that a life so valuable
seemed about to end. The consent OK
the Dominion, subject to certain conditions,
appeared 10 be reasonable, one being that
the ships fitted out under the British iag Tor
lawful fishing in the Behring Sea be COM
pensated for loss during the period Of pro-
hiOitiOn.
Under the ilsealing is prohibited simply
in the Brhrlng Sea. The effect will be a
greatly diminished catch of seals and a
great rise in the price of skins OBJ
tanned. South of the Behring Sea
the prohibition will continue until
1892, within which time it was expected
the arbitrations would make an award.
1t was not proposed that an order
be issued unless Russia also con-
sented to entire prohibition within
the Behring Sea. The compensation would
depend upon the actual loss the shipowner
sustained. There was every reason 10 hope
for the cooperation Of Canada. Her court
agreed with Smith that serious
misunderstanding between England and the
United States would be great calamity.
ceive the support of the Opposition
in referring international questions
to arbitration. The Behrng Sea
dispute seemed, above all others, to be one
tending itself to arbitration, therefore he
had nothing to say except to express salts
farticn with the course adopted. 1t was
satisfactory to find that Canada was a
party to the arrangement. This was es-
sential.
Sill Conservative approved the arrange
ment. although he thought the close time
for seals Ought-from October 1St to June
well as within. 1t was a mistake
to suppose that the seals within
the Bchrlng Sea were specially in danger Of
determination. On the contrary his inf0r-
nation showed Il lIkel hood of there being
more seals in the Bchring Sea this year than
for a long period
Chamberlain hoped the Government would
ascertain the position of the maritime
nations toward the question. lie
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 possession of
the Behring Sea; would the arb-
tratiOn be confined to precautions to
preserve the seals. The question Of
compensation was of minor Importance.
Still, he could not help thinking it was hard
that this should fall on the British tax
payer. No compensation ought TO be paid
unless clear proof was produced that the
vessels were really Canadian vessels.
George Osborne Morgan, Sir George Camp
bell, Sir George Baden Howell and Mr..
Bryce approved the Issue Of the negotiations.
Sir James Ferguson, Under Foreign Sec
retary, said the arbitration would be
concerned not only with the re-
spectlve rights of England, United States
and Canada in Behnng Sea, but also with
measures to preserve the seals. OyertureS
have been made to Russia for the fixing
of close time. Although no answer
has been received 1t was known that
Russia some time ago was favorable
TO such measure. The Government as
sented with reluctance to the United States
proposal that 1900 seals be taken this
year The arrangement was tenn
pOrary one for the removal of source
of difficulty pending the 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 co closely together that a har-
mOniOuS reference would SCon be obtained.
The bill was then read for the second Gime