The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-11

Ths IssuMeienev 81 che 0rousds tor CAan0s
lag the Rasis Of the MoAas viveaSi.

| Ths Iasuasieaev 81 che ores.d. Tor cAs,o.
las the nasas srths MoAas viveasi
| WASHINGTON. March 0.-The reason indicated
| In the diplomatic correspondence for Lord
| saiisbury's unwillingness to renew the Beh-
ring Sea agreement Of 1901 In that tho inves-
| LEGATIONS OF the British Commissioner show
| that such renewal 10 not necessary for the
preservation OF seal life.
That view 10 naturally not acceptable to our
Government, 1t begs ono question which both
countries have agreed to submit to tho decis.
Ion Of arbitrator. Sir George Baden Powell
and Dr. Dawson went to BehrinG Ses as repre-.
sentatives OF the British Government which
holds that the dlminution Of the seals 10
mainly due to the lessees OF the Pribylov 1sl-
ands. Prof MendenhAll and Prot Merriam
wont thither as representatives OF our Govern.
ment which ascrbes that diminution 10 the
pelaRic hunting Of tho Victoria feet Each SGT
OF Commissioners brought back stack Of
statistics and arguments to support tho view
Of its own Government before tho Board OF
Arbitration. But that Is scarcely q ground
for not renewing tho modes rirend. and for
substituting zone Of exclusion only thirty
miles broad around the Pribylov Islands
The n,odus rireadi was founded on the faot
that such difference OF opinion existed and
could only DO settled amtoably By arbitration.
The continuation OF that diversity Of visw. and
any wlder divergence which may have resulted
from tho visit OF tho Commissions. should
rather strengthen the need Of renewing the
temporary arrangement untirthe aebiters dc.
eide which view IL right. but Lori Salisbury's
proposed change Of tho prohibited area from .
great sea to a Zone seems to assume that the
view OF his Commissioners is all right. tho view
OF ours all wrong. and perhaps that the posi-.
tlon 81 our Government II the result elther OF
Ignorance or insincerity.
II should DO some indication at least Of the
sincerity OF our country In its profession Of
anxiety for seal lite that after voluntarily
cutting down the number OF 8 .nls annually al
lowed to tho Pribylov lesseos from 1OO.OU0. no
maintained for twonty years. to aO.OOO. II was
further willing to cut 1t down to 1900 .
year. simply hs an inducement for checking
pelngic sealing This meant a loss in revenue
taxes and royalties OF perhaps halt q million .
lslaniH 1T will hardly he pretended that
arrnt britain needs to make IN equal sncriilcs
any oIfiSassns I" nasmniiy A her f"r
their exclus!on iiom Brhr!ng sea.
xs % sSs S sS m .na F's v
s Ss.s so s smt nf sss. y 9 .s
"t} out Aa ;E
EN- Sns'i sss al s'vy tSl Ess'ss
tstt. sssn =: Essri E:nS' 1 sns:
!" the p"mn nvASod rs"F o"r Cow i'x sn
7: sst aside: They vi ,ew Inns to . this.
ton nry cum th m !" e. e !" h s. ss
referred; hut they cannot Expect in III" mean
tins to az II tss w,S wa" tnf tsy
ssnf b, is %%s rrt n, x"tt rrSn
mains in orde. ih"t the Dom n " ss"Ters may H
IRON q" Inc aTr rss M Hs mt rss
Britain moe tllan half way
to Sa tie @seG %tH iii "s liz
Of sss In srhrnE ss s d%n
p"aehsrs il thr Is f%snss os mt Ct tha as
has has bes ssn sntag thns ,bs
that rrscsdsd ths no;iss ,'rs:a: Trey sstu:
Ely tGok more sers oStsaS Of .hrtng sea
S're,M. d".ratcS rpm u ottawa anno"sccd
%at ' Year as%a-f 0f' ns d f"k% scason
preceding. making an Increase d, H.A0 SKINS
81 tie N assnst tie %nSv sS
moass G'.sid;; TIs british colu",SIa vessel
Of seals, pending the arbitration:
sacrifice under tho ,nodis pirpnd,. and its de-
size to renew that agreement Is proof II ito
senl lie. Hence the condition which Lord
Salisbury suggests for accompanying the
mum number Of seals to he killed on the
Pribylov islands from 1870 to W.OW.
Between the proposition for closed
son and the proposition for a closed zone ~
thirty miles AROUND the i.l,nds. last years ex-
In favor OF the former. Had no motl"s rirendi
ever heen agreed upon. Lord Sa lisbury's course
might he more reasonable: but with such an
agreement now operative. its abandonment
sCemS to be q serious mistake.