Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-27

Officials Of the State Department are said tc
be in a state of mind because a staff officer O,
the navy has recently given utterance to anti
American sentiments about the Bering sea con.
troversy.
The offender is Mr.. John Clyde Sullivan, pay.
master. who went to Bering sea in the Mohican
Recently, in Seattle, Washington, he is alleged
to have used in an interview in the Seattle Post
Lntelhgencer the following words: "We haven
the shadow Of a right TO declare Bering sea a
closed sea, and we will be knocked out entirely
by the international commission. have read
everything l could get my hands on upon the
subject, and am something of lawyer as well
as a sailor. and believe Blaine's contention il
all wrong. and the United States will have to
pay double for the work We have been doing in
Bering sea-"
DOMINION JOURNALS PLEASED.
This statement was Immediately taken up BY
the dominion papers and quoted with gusto.
The Victoria (B. o. Colonist reproduced the
statement and commented upon it as follows:
Lieut.. sullivan, being a thoughtful and we'll
informed American citizen, can see that il the
American argument to support the United
States claim in Bering sea is sound its conten-
ton with regard to its rights on the Atlantic
coast. and, indeed, everywhere else,
opposition. Americans claim the right to
traverse the high seas in every part Of the
world, no matter who may own the adjacent
coast. And when their right. limited by their
own treaties, is questioned they growl and
bluster and threaten. 1t is ridiculous to sup
pose that Bering sea is an exception to
every other sea in the known world. II
an attempt were made to treat the Amer
leans in the Mediterranean, in Hudsop's
bay, in the Gulf Of St. Lawrence. or
in any other large body Of water, not com
pletely land-locked, as the Americans treat the
British in tha. part Of the Pacific ocean which
has been arbitrarily named Bering sea- there
would be a tremendous row and the Americans
would be perfectly justified in kicking it up.
All Americans know in their hearts that the
United States and Russia have no more and no
greater rights and powers in Bering sea than
they have IN any other part Of the ocean, and
Lieut. Sullivan deserves credit for having
spoken what he knows to be the truth to his
oountrymen manfully."
Mr.. Sullivan's remarks are said to have
created sensation in Victoria. There are five
British war ships at anchor at the naval sta tion
at Esquimault, near Victoria, and the officers
aboard them are said to have criticised Mr..
Sullivan severely, while the American residents
were humiiated.
REPORTED TO THE STATE DEPARrnKxr. Va
The affair was promptly reported to Secretary
Foster by the United States consul at Victoria
1t is understood that Mr.. Sullivan viii be
taken to task by his superiors for his hasty
speech
OFFENDED THE rNrERIoB DEPARTMENT.
Mr.. Sullivan also offended the Interior Depsrt-
ment by the following alleged remarks about
the government Of Alaska: THAT country
should have regular territorial form OF gov
ernment, with q delegate 10 ConRress Il
should have every facility for the Development
Of its wonderful resources. This bursaucradc
form Of Government 10 fraud anyway, and -
rule inefficient men are always appointed to
manage ahairA Our work the past season has
Reen 10 prevent pslasic sealing, and W have
done 70 - fax - We could"