The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-11
Is CANADA LOYAL?
Liberals Ask Queer Questions in
House of Commons.
THE OWNERSHIP OF EsoUIMALT.
Tories Take q Bold Stand on the Boring
Sea Question, Hoping to Rally the
Ignorant "Jingoists" to Them.

couver island, was raised In the commons
this afternoon and discussed with much
heat by Lord George Francis Hamilton,
first lord of the admiralty, and several Lib
eral interrogators.
Hardly had the breeze died out when
the Bering sea controversy was brought
before the house by a question addressed
by Edward Temberly, advanced Liberal
member from Sunderland, and answered
for the government by James William
Lowther. under secretary of the foreign
Office. Ferguson, Liberal from Leith,
asked Lord Hamilton:
Does the site OF the navy yard at Esquimalt
belong to Canada or to the crown? Are any ad-
yantages secured to her majesty's vessels at Es-
quimalt harbor that are not accorded them in
ports Of the United States, France or other
civilized nations? II ths garrison be put under
the orders OF the Canadian government, will the
home government have any means of assuring
itself OF the support Of the same for her testys
feet in times OF war? If, as suggested, Canada
decides to cast her lot with the Uuited states
and become incorporated with that country,
would she carry VITA her ths guns and other
portable equipment Of Notifications?
The interrogations were delivered amid
a storm of EXPLANATIONS and remonstran-
ces The last question was put in such
way to suggest that in time of war or
threatened war, the imperial gov
ernnen could not rely upon
the loyalty of Canada. The
impression was, the speaker intended to
say, that Canada had drifted too far toward
the United States to be trusted TO cooper
ate with the mother country in the case of
trouble with the. United States. Lord
Hamilton said:
st
longs 10 the crown, and the Canadian govern
ment has reserved for her msiesty's ship s eK
clusively portion OF that harbor. The Canadian
government will provide site for the fortified
tons and gus, and will be respon-
slble for the management OF them. The
honorable gentleman's other questions seemed
to have been pot with the object OF causing the
inference that in the time of trouble or danger
Canada Will no: be ready to cooperate with the
home government decline 10 answer those
hypothetical questions, which are prompted by
suppositions 81 once injudicious aud dangerous
Ferguson jumped to his feet, asking:
demand that the frs: lord OF the admiralty
answer the query whether, in the event of
Canada separating herself from her majesty's
empire, the guns, stores and munitions, as
well Notifications, viii belong to the i'm
perial government?
The house was in hubbub when Fergu-
"order" and don't answer" Lord Ham
ilton made no reply.
Under-Secretary Lowther, in response
to the inquiries of Gourley as to the report
of the Boring sea commissioners, said that
all the commissioners had signed joint
report embodying points on which they
were agreed as regards the protection and
preservation of the seal industry. The
l.,
arrived at, and these were the main points,
concerned the length of the season around
the pelagic islands. These questions will
be referred to the arbitration committee
for settlement.
WAsHISGToN CITY, March 10-General
Foster, of the state department, who IS
assisting the president in the Boring sea
negotiations, had long conference at the
navy department this afternoon with Sec
rotary Tracy and Commodore Ramsey,
chief of the bureau of navigation. Thu
conference, it is thought, related to con-
sideration of the course to be pursued by
the navy in enforcing the contention of
this government that pelagic sealing in
Boring sea should be wholly suspended
pending a settlement of the controversy
by arbitration. If Great Britain declines
modus vivendi, this government will
no doubt send all the available vessels to
Boring sea soon enough, if possible, to
control its approaches and prevent the en-
trance of all sealing vessels, American as
well as others. The vessels available for
this service are the Charleston, Baltimore
and Ranger at San Francisco. the Mohi-
can, now on her way to Port Orchard,
Wash, with the Nipsic in tow. and the
Yorktown and Boston, now en- route TO
San Francisco from Callao. The revenue
cutters Bear, Rush and Corwin. now TT
ting out at San Francisco for their annual
cruise for the seal islands, will also assist.
Los DON, March 10.-The news from
| America IS the absorbing topic of discus
sion, SO Tar as foreign affairs are con-
cerned. 1t is intimated strongly that
should the American government attempt
! retaliation against Canada, England will
| withdraw its arbitration agreement and
meet any issue the United States NAV
| choose to raise in Boring sea with the
| plain assertion OF the right of English
| subjects TO hunt seals outside the recog-
nized limits Of United States jurisdic-
ton. his position Is urged by many
! tories, and is said TO be REGARDED
"tNHoAt ut>.dfOE, altHOUSl rs vet wltn0l.
| open approval of the foreign office. The
| tories are desperate for an issue that will
arouse ijngoism and rally the country to
/ the support of the government. There
| has been notable disposition of late on
| the part of newspapers commonly SUD-
| posed to be in the confidence of the gov
| eminent 10 foster feeling OF hostility to
| America and arouse the impression that
| the Americans are unfriendlv 20 Great
| Britain. With this object. ridiculous
| communications have been published. al
| legged TO have been written by Americans.
, and containing bomtcstic menaces
! against England Even If these letters
! were genuine they would uot be nun
/ lsAad under ordinary circumstances.
There IS some reason. however.
| 10 believe they have been
| written TO order, as the tories regard the
| time favorable Tor an autl-American
demonstration on account OF the irritation
! that exists among the members OF the
working people who have had their wages
reduced or been deprived OF erDrlnvrnont
| altogether on account OF the Mckinley
law. This feeling is especially strong in
Wales and the manufacturing districts
In naval quarters, While the officers are
re;icenc, unothCiaily it IS stated that the
British squadron in the Pacific can he de-
pended on to do its duty in the event of
any encounter with Americans.
THE FORM OF THE E.Iror