The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-11
THE ssR1Na SEA sQUABsLE.
An Important Conference at the Navy
Department Yesterday.


WASHINGTON. March 1U.-Gen. Foster OF
the state department., who is assisting the
President in the Bsring sea fisheries nego-
tiations, had long conference at the navy
department this afternoon with Secretary
Tracy aud Commodore Ramsay, chief of
the bureau OF navigation. While il is not
possible to state positively what occurred
at the conference. it is said to be a safe as
sumption that It related solely to considera-
ton Of the course to be pursued by the navy
in enforcing the contention Of this govern
ment that the pelagic sealing in Bering
sea should be wholly sus-
pended, pending settlement by
arbitration of the controversy between the
United States and Great Britain. Although
there is no certainty that Great Britain will
not cooperate in the work of keeping seal
ing vessels out of the sea, the well known
objection OF that government 10 the closing
OF the sea 10 the vessels OF Canada justifies
IL Is said, the alleged assumption on the part
OF this government that il the sea IL to be
patroled 1t will have to be done altogether
by our own navy aud revenue vessels. 1t ia
therefore inferred that to-dAy's conference
related solely to the best method OF per-
forming this service in the event that Great
OF March for prompt renewal OF the
modus vivendt
ALL DEPENDS ON ENGLAND.
1t is asserted in some quarters that the
navy department is now well prepared to
enforce such policy, provided there is no
resistance thereto on the part Of the British
government. A disposition by that gov
ernment to resist any interference with
merchant vessels flying its flag desiring to
enter Bering sea, would, however, put an
entirely different phase on the question. In
the event that this government ad-
heres to its policy OF last year
it will send all the available vessels at its
command TO Bering sea soon enough, IL
possible, TO control all its approaches and
prevent the entrance Of the sealing vessels,
American as well as others The naval
vessels that can be used for this service are
the Charleston, Baltimore and Ranger at
San Francisco, the Mohican now on her
way to Port Orchard, the Washington with
the Nipsic in tow, the Yorktown and the
Boston en- route to San Francisco from
Callao. The revenue cutters Bear, Rush
and Corwin, now fitting out at San Fran
disco for their cruise TO the seal islands.
would also assist in the work of policing
the restricted waters.
Diligent inquiry aS the various executive
departments dealing with the question elic-
its the information that the President viii
take no further action In regard to the
Bering sea matter until he shall have re-
eeived reply from Lord Salisbury to Mr..
Wharton's note OF March 8, insisting on q
renewal Of the modus vivendi of lest year
as an essential condition of a settlement of
the controversy by arbitration.
ExAGGnRATIoN CHARGED.
LONDON. March 1o.--The St James Ga.
setts (coAservativel to-day accuses the
Washington govsrument of exaggerating
the difficulty of arriving at modus yivepdi
with Great Britain In regard to the Bering
sea seal fisheries. The paper suggests that
each side 20 sealing as usual, each render,
ing an account Of it's catch, the party found
by the abitrators TO be In the wrong after
ward paying compensation.
COMMENTS OF THE STANDARD
LONDON, March IL, 8 A. M-The Stand
ard. commenting on the Bering sea ques-
tion, says: 1--WE cannot help thinking that
President Harrison is trading overmuoh
on our past amiability. The Wharton mes.
sage completely misrepresents the attitude
and argument of Lord Salisbury, besides
being the whole question In dispute.
The suggestion that England would
only be too glad il arbitration was aban-
doned is too ridiculous to be discussed.
Lord Salisbury 10 bound to protect English
rights as far as it is possible 1t is Just to do
so, and we must assure our friends in Amer
lea. In all good humor, that no amount of
browbeating is likely to force him into
abandoning this responslbilitY