The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-26
THEY SEE THE CHANCE.
Liberals Will Seize Their Opportunity
to Arralgn Salisbury
ON THE BEHRING SEA AFFAIR,
a Week Ago They Were Inclined to Sup
port Him, but Now They See He Is
Pursuing Needlessly vexatious
Course and VIII Rebel.

Copyright, the New York Associated Press)
LONDON, March 26.-Cable dispatches
giving the drift OF the Bering Sea cores
pondence as laid before the United States
senate have melted the Liberal leaders to
adopt an attitude OF opposition 10 the
question. A week ago the Liberal lead
ers were inclined to support Lord Sails
bury and the Liberal organs until Thurs
day took a view adverse to the posi-
tion OF the United States government.
But now the whole tenor OF opposition
expressed in the lobby of the House of
Commons indicates that the opposition
means to seize the chance TO arraign Lord
Salisbury as pursuing needlessly VeXa-
ious 'course, instead OF asserting TO the
reasonable arrangement Offered by the
Washington government.
Today's Speaker, Mr.. Gladstone's or
gan, contains a4 INSPIRED" article,
which, after analyzing expert evidence on
seal killing, maintains that the renewal
of the modus vivendi ought to be assent
I'd to by the British government, and
continues:
"Why should the government be asked
10 promote the success OF American ad-
venturers who deliberately undertake
dangerous speculative enterprise OF
doubtful utility TO mankind? AT the
outside the capital and outfit of those adj
venturers amount TO 10000 pounds.
Their success might make the fur seal as
extinct as the 'dodo' and IL the existence
of the seal is at stake, how can damages
be measured9 We ere not going to war
with the United States, not even in the
interest OF the federation OF the empire;
and, il pending arbitration, it is unjust
to refuse to continue the arrangement
which was part of the condition under
which arbitration was agreed on"
The Unionist organ "The Spectator"
takes the government side, but has only
a brief note, advocating a settlement that
will open the sea TO Canadian sealers,
Americans in the event OF the decision OF
the arbitrators being against Great Brit
ain.
Lord Salisbury's reply TO President
Harrison's last note ought To have been
in the possession OF the Washington cab
met yesterday. The belief of the inner
ministerialist circles is that Lord Sails
bury win agree to place an embargo on
Canadian sealing in the open sea provid-
ed the United States government agrees
TO pay compensatioDI the arbitration
decision be against the American claims.
Whatever may be the issue, the idea OF
an armed collision is dismissed on all
sides here as supremely improbable.
Last nights cable dispatches giving a
formidable list of United States cruisers
and revenue vessels preparing for Bering
sea are received with incredulous sur
prise. Within the House OF Commons
interest in the matter contres solely in
the question Of how much party advan-
tage may be derived from the controver-
sy. Neither side has the remotest sense
OF any grave crisis impending affecting
peace.
Outside OF Parliament popular interest
in the Bering sea question is very slight.
Replies to inquiries made at the Admiral
ty do not support the rumor that orders
have been sent to Admiral Hotham alter
ing the movements OF the Pacific squad
ron.