Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-10

OF the approaching
Berins sea arbitration in Paris Upon that
tribunal will be conferred, for months to come.
the close attention OF all Europe and America,
and, indeed, of the whole world
The stakes are well worth the game Not
alone is the control Of the Bering sea in vo lved-
sea larger than the Mediterranean-with its
precious fur seal fisheries the most valuable in
existence, but above all the incslculable
prestige which success will secure for the
diplomacy of the party that wins. The contest
Tor this stake will be a battle of the giants
Profound jurists, among the foremost in this
country and in England, will be pitted against
each other before the august tribunal, which
VIII itself be composed of some OF the ablsst
pubicists living.
The tribunal will assemble February 90.
Inc most elaborate preparations have been
mado for the event, and in anticipation
OF 1t the ACTIVITY ut the State Department
here and at the British foreign Office in London
Tor months back has been unprecedented The
archives and records of two continents have
been ransacked for data official couriers have
pied unremittingly between Washington and
Alaska and between Ottawa and London, and
every obtainable fact and argument bearing on
either side OF the great dispute has been care
fully collected and awaited Of. The joint labors
OF the legal counsel, special treasury agents.
incessant and tireiess, and the preliminary work
OF the arbitration on both sides ia now rapidly
nearing completion.
THE PARIS TRIBUNAL
The Paris tribunal will consist Of seven arbi-
| traitors, all selected by maritime powers. Two,
appointed by President Harrison, will repre-
sent the United States; two, appointed by her
britannia majesty, Queen Victoria, will repre-
sent Great Britain; one, chosen by President
Carnot, Mt the mutual request of the United
States and Great Britain, will represent the re-
oh EtyA.r lxyK To-,
Humbert, will represent the kingdom of Italy,
and one, chosen by King Oscar H. will repre-
sent the combined realms of Sweden and Nor
way. The arbitrators for the United States are
Senator John I. Morgan of Alabama, the lead
Ing democrat on the Senate committee on
foreign relations, and Justice John NJ Harlan Of
Kentucky. republican and fourth ranking
member Of the United States Supreme Court
The latter's position in the tribunal CORE
spends with that of Chief Justice of the Queen
Bench Cockburn in the Alabama commission at
Geneva The British arbitrators are the Right
Hon Lord Hammer Of England and Sir John s.
ID. Thompson, X. c. NJ. G., the new premier OF
the Canadian dominion. The French arbitrator
is Baron de Courcel; the Italian. Marquis Emil
Ito Visconti-Venesta, and the Sweden Norwegian,
Gregers W. W. Gram
The United States will also have an official
agent there in the person of John W.
Foster, Secretary OF State, who has had pt acti-
cal experience in diplomacy as minister to
Spain and IL thoroughly versed in international
law, and Great Britain will have a similar func-
tionary present in the person of Mr. c. H.
Upper of Canada, son of Sir Charles Upper
Besides these, both the United States and Great
Britain are foi mally represented by distin-
guished legal counsel. Our counsel comprise
Judge Henry W. Blodgett of Chicago, Ed
ward ]. Phelps of Burlington, Vt, and James
c. Carter, esq. Of New York. Judge Blodgett
enjoys an enviable reputation for erudition and
legal acnmen and presided over the United States