New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-14
~ THE BEHRING SEA CASE.
IVAN rETGOTF CHARGED WITH FURN1sfilN"
FALSE INFORMATION To TIE GOVERNMENT

IVAN TETROFF CHARGED WITH FURNISHING
FALSE INrORN,TION To TIE GOVERNMENT
Washington Nov. l3.-"T The Post" to-day published
an article 10 the effect that Ivan Pctrof, special
agent ot the state Department and formerly III the
Ccnsns Office. has boon detected In the net oil ii''"
INK false Information 10 this Government In rra'""
10 the seal industry of Alaska, which has been en-
bodied In the preparation OF the bcrng sea case i'F
arbitration Tie article says
When the state Department began the task some
months ago. Of preparing the Ichrine sea case Tor
arbitration II became necessary to secure the a.
.l.tance II experts Alaskan and sealing questions
In investigating the literature on tho resources 81
Alaska, tie Department encountered The IAN" OF
Ivan Pctroi moro frequently than that OF any oHl'f
author and upon inquiry he was found TO b" >pe'aI
agent Of the Ccu-u, Bureau. II also learned that
no. had taken tho IL Of Alaska for the Government
IN l--o and l-oo, AID had written the monograph
issued by the Bureau Of statistics Of tho Treasury
Department on Alaska. lIo had also assisted Hubert
Howe Bancroft IN the preparation q tie htierS MS
tory 81 the Territory. IT was evident To tho state
Department therefore that this official would be Of
valuable assistance In the preparation OF the h'hHns
SEA case.
Mr. PETROL was ihcreupon summoned from IN"
Census Bureau 10 the state Department. and was In
trusted with the examination into and compilation
u certain facts relating to IA" sealing indus r. il
WAS not necessary for HIM % visit Alaska. ara his
work was done In this city some time afterwari
one Of the Governments special attorneys While cN-
aiming the data. discovered error. Closer invcs-
g,ilon showed that nearly the entire Information fur
nishcd Ly pctJG had bcea fal-iAcd. ami In manner
which left no doubt OF flslncaton With w.iful intent
10 deceive.
"Th., discovery asionlshci the State Department
officials. The Information had already been iucor-
l,,ritrl In tl- case Of ih. Government ,"nt 10
London. ana formed part Il tie arch upon which
tie United STATE, claim rested. although Il va, rot
tec keystone by any means, The British Govern
mcnt Wa at once informed that Tie United states
hai boon Id luto error, Of statement. and nat a
correction would be- made when tar counter Gaze
as tho supplementary papers are termed. was sub
mlttci.
Tho discovery has created considerable excite
mcnf ln official circles. T." p"fiutrndcnt Of the
C.u.u, ha- h"'.n in conference with a." president,
fur SECRETARY ~ stat" AID the Scorc'ar, oi uir
naturally Gus'n. Pctron work Las been dlsh"i
I'm one In-tanr'. are not his ccl.u, figure also
unreliable. This /, an lnquir, that can only Dee
answered after teion, and , raals expensive Ia
yc,tgailon. IuriOu.Y enough. there Is 40 law
upon tie statute books 70 meet such case as this
AMI Mr. PciroG viii simply lose his Government
position. with the knowledge tat never again can
hc enter Official Ne.
Alnsim when that country was Russian province
and lived there forty years Ne IS now sixty wears
4 age. lie la, been an adventurous spirit all hl,
life. lie took the census Of ALASKA In l1su, and
\. Walker that he was selected 10 furnish IN"
Alaskan stati,ilri for the census which has iust
been completed
Onncni5 Of the state Department and Interior
affirmed it, correctness. but declined TO say any
thing further.