The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-30
PROFESSOR woOLsEY On MR. HARRI-
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SONS FOREIGN POLICY.
Professor Theodore S. Woolsey has pub
lished in the Yale Review q critical exami-
nation of the controversies into which Mr.
Harrison has involved this Government
with foreign governments during the brief
period of his administration. The article
would almost I'LL up one side Of THE TIMES,
and is. therefore. too long for reproduction,
but We shall endeavor to condense his
points within the limits Of our space.
He takes up the Behring Sea matter first
and after showing the nomadic habits of the
seal, which preclude property in him except
whilst be is actually upon the territory of
some power or within three miles of the
coast, he shows that Behring Sea is an enor-
nous body of water three times as large as
the Gulf Of Mexico. connecting the Arctic
Ocean with the Pacific. At the Pacific end,
which is $500 miles wide, there is a string
of small islands crossing from Kamschatka
to America, but these have great gaps of
water in some instances 200 miles wide be-
tween them. With perfect propuety he re-
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shows that Behring Sea is an open sea
common to all mankind, in which, in the
natures of things, one power can have no
more rights than another. He shows that
Russia, formerly owning the territory upon
both sides of the Behring Sea, at one time
claimed exclusive ownership in that sea,
but he also shows that Great Britain and
the United States persistenty denied the
claim, Americas protest being put forward
by jurists of no less repute than Chancellor
Kent and John Quincy Adams. and that
our protests resulted IN the treaty Of 1924,
which contained this clause.
1T is agreed that in any part of the great
ocean commonly called the Pacific Ocean
or South Sea, the respective citizens shall be
neither disturbed nor restrained IN nayiga-
ton or in fishing or in the power of resort
ing TO the coasts at unsettled points for
trading"
In 1925 similar treaty was made with
Great Britain by Russia. 1t is perfectly
clear therefore, that IN the nature of things
Behring Sea is an open sea. and it is equally
clear that until Mir. Harrison's administra-
ton came into power the United States had
always stubbornly contended that il was an
open sea. He would, therefore. in his part
of bully. have plunged us into war with
Great Britain in case in which we were
not only plainly in the wrong. but in the
wrong by our own confession, so important
to the Republican party was the Irish vote
of New York.
Professor Woolsey next talks of the case
of Barrundia.
This man had been War Minister of
Guatemala and had been exiled to Mexico
Taking up arms against his own people he
had been disarmed by the Mexican authori-
ties and ordered to leave the country.
He accordingly took passage on the Pacific
mail steamship for Salvador The ship was
totouch alta Guatemalan port, and when she
arrived there the Guatemalan authorities
demanded Barrundia The captain refused
to allow them 70 come aboard his ship and
steamed for another Guatemalan port. S.
Jose. At that place Captain Reiter, of the
American man-of-war Ranger, came aboard
the Pacific Mail steamship. and Cap
tain Pitts, Of the latter. asked
him to protect his passengers.
Captain Reiter replied that he could not
do it without authority of the Gov
ernor of the Port. in which Captain
Reiter showed a true acquaintance with in
ternational law. Pitts then wired Mr..
Miner, the American Minister TO Guate-
mala. who, having obtained from the Gov
eminent assurances that Barrundia should
have fair trial. and that no death penalty
should be inflicted upon him, wired Pitts
that his ship being within the jurisdiction
Of Guatemala the authorities of that power
had right to take from his ship a person
charged with oGenses against It's laws. This
is perfectly plain principle of international
law, and hsrdly day passes that We do not
take some person at New York charged
with crime committed here from foreign
ship.
Colonel Lorielle and few soldiers there
upon boarded Captain Pitts ship. II was
attempted TO arrest Barrunda. who drew
pistols and fred at Lorielle. and In q scuf.
tie he was shot and killed by the Gsute-
malAns.
Hax 1t Ia perfectly plain that Mr. Miznsr