Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-09
TWO CENTS.
THE BERING SEA QUESTION.
fostponemeut of the First Session Of the
Joint Commission.
fEfLISo AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT rHAT
hNeLAND rs HALF-HEARrED IN HEB DESIRE TO
EFFECT sErTLkMEST THE kLknESr OF
CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.

Inc nrst session OF the joint commission on
the Bering sea question which was first planned
Tor today, has been postponed until Thursday
OF this week. The meetings will be held at the
State Department Il is expected that they
will last several weeks, for each side has un-
doubtediy arrived at certain conclusions as 70
the state Of the sealing industry and il will be
q matter of more or less difficulty for the COM
missioners to agree to a mutual basis of fact.
for the two countries will rest their case largelv
upon this presentation.
-HE REAL ISSUE
The real issue of the whole controversy. OF
course, will be the question OF the character of
Bering sea and Of the seal fisheries rs regards
the Jurisdiction OF the United States. The
former arguments made by Secretary Blaine in
his correspondence with Lord Salisbury to
demonstrate that the United States has juris-
diction there which entities the republic to
prevent the destruction Of its property, the
seals, will undoubtedly be made anew before
the tribunal of arbitration, and the other side
will no doubt oppose this contention with the
logic formerly utilized by the British premier
Upon the three neutral votes, then, will depend
the decision.
TREATY MUST BE MADE.
The arbitrators cannot be designated without
treaty first being entered into between the
two countries. and thero is now some corre-
spondence going on between the State Depart
ment here and the foreign office in London in
regard to the terms of that instrument. There
is an evident disposition on tic part of the
officials Of the State Department TO chafe over
the delays of Lord Salisbury in the matter.
The American draft OF the treaty is all ready for
submission to the Senate, and no step can
be taken until it has been ascertained that a
similar treaty will be ratified on the other side.
No such notification has yet been received,
though elaborate preparations were made a
few days ago to have Lord Salisbury's assent TO
the American draft cabled to Washington to
save time
THE ENGLISH POLICY.
Meanwhile there has been no sign that the
promised renewal of the modus vivendi will be
contaminated soon enough to prevent the Pa
cific sealing feet from fitting out for the sea-
sons work. There is a growing feeling here
that it is part Of the British policy to force a
delay until SO late date that the issue of the
proclamation will avail little or nothing and a
repetition of last seasons difficulties will re-
suit. The standard belize is that the English
government is only lf-hearted in its efforts
to solve the problem and is trying to embarrass
the United States in every possible way.
NEW ELEMENT.
new element has Just entered into the case,
though some will not acknowledge that il has
any bearing. This is the question Of reci-
procity with Canada, which seems to be CON-
ing to climax just at present
An Ottawa dispatch dated yesterday saws that
Sir John Thompson, Hons. Geo. f. Foster and
Mackenzie Bowel left for Washington yester-
day afternoon bound on q mutual trade mis-
sion.
They are coming, as the phrase goes. ION
their own hook, and not on invitation from
here. Ii is not anticipated that they will ac-
complish any definite results, as there arc evil
dent tendencies on the part of Secretary Blaine
to discourage such negotiations with Canada.
1he history OF the efforts on the part of the
Canadians to secure reciprocal trade relations
with the United States cannot be very encour-
aging to them, as it presents a rather monot-
onous record OF postponements.
PROBABLE FATE OF CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.
1t may be interesting to note at this time
that Hon. George Foster, the Canadian minis
ter Of finance, is the same official who went
down into the West Indies with hope OF Sc
curing reciprocity agreement for Canada.
He failed. This may not be a signal for the
future Of the present enterprise. but il is
being quoted freely in the State Depart.
ment and it has a tendency to shake
the faith of the officials in the success
of the mission of the three Canadians.
just what bearing this latest move will have on
the Berng sea case is problematic, but it is felt
that the two commissions will undoubtedly
consult as to the program to be followed by
each. 1t is also felt that the postponement of
the initial meeting is partly due to the an
nouncement that the reciprocity commits
sioners were started south.