The sun., 1893-12-10
THE DoMrNTor WaSrs DArloEs.
The Bms for seszs-s vtssov,a sesisrs Ars
- ne Csn-sserea - gneis s.M.

The Ems for seizs-r yt-sorta se.iers Ars
- ne csu-sssree - Ussis s...
WAsHrxaroN. Dec q. Ayic,aria tidInes have
auS6unssd that sometimSafo Collectsf Milne
forrardsd 10 Ottawa claims sekinstthe United
States @ GoSernm ent By British odlumbis ssalers
agRrerating million dollars. These we're to
be presented under the recent Paris arpitrs-
tlon decision.
Mr.. CIeyelandis message vaguely says that
negotiations are In progress between the two
Govern ments with view to such concurrent
action as will make the award and regulations
agreed upon by tho Behring Sea tribunal Of
arbitration practically effective" This does
not show whether anything has been settled
ia regard TO damages WHOM. IN fscs was not
a question finally settled at Paris. Il was
originally proposed that the Paris tribunal
should take into consideration the liability OF
the United States and the British Governments.
each respectively, for the Injuries alleged
TO have been sustained by the other or by its
citizens in connection with the claims pre-
sented and urged by It." After some diplo-
matic correspondence. IT, wac fougd that the
two Govern m nts could nut st rec on tltat tues
ton and accordingly Il was not tefertsdto the
tribunal They did agree. nevertheless. that
various questions OF fact involved In such
claims should be put before the arbitrntors.
who could be asked for a decision thereon, the
LIABILITY OF either Government upon the facts
thus found should be made the subject OF
Thus Il is plain not only that the tribunal did
not undertak Q 10 make definite awards upon
claims on either side. but that II had s an:
claims, and that It wac limited to making
certain decision In regard TO facts therein IN
volyed. which decision is binding.
There are really two classes u claims. and
they stand upon, different footinEs. One OF
them cor sists Of claims that arise from seiz-
ures made during the years before Great Brit
ain and our country agreed upon nqens ri-
after this date. As to the latter the point i'm
portant to note H. that II deals with losses
which British sealing vessels NAV be said %
prosecution Of their industry whlIc the arbi-
tration proceedings were going on. This LA;
under the original agreement. but only at its
renewal Great Britain. at the urgent request
to rcimburse the British Columbia seslers
for such losses partly. POSSIBLY 70 alt,v sh2E
agreement which had been entered into with
the United states But. whatever the motive.
on renewing the n,odgs ripe',di agr cement, Lord
Salisbury, as a condition OF that renewal de-
Rritish seaiers SO over upon u.s. As % there was al no no
help for IT, and the renewal was very desirable
AL AL sce9Tnts soSgtS Our s
any award Of damages should bo made upon
the basis H Of spch regulated s and limited h eateh
OF the seal herds"
What, then. was the opinion OF tho arbitra-
tors on that point2 IL appears that they ad- |
wise an entire q abandonment OF seal hunting.
both by Great Britain and the United States. |
Tor period OF from one to three years Hence |
it can hardly be asserted that there WAS any |
reg ulated and limited catch which could have
been made at that time without diminishing
the seal herds. In other words. it seems a
question whether our country has incurred
any liability whatever. under the piodus ri-
rsndi, In consequence OF the abstaining Of the |
sealers from their vocation. '.--
AZ to the other source OF liability. that OF |
~ be said that II the damages have now |
been put at 81. 200, 900 tho amount must have |
been swelled far beyond what was claimed for |
those same seizures several years ago when
they occurred. This. however. Is a familiar
experience, II being not at ali unusual to have
claims made three TO five times as large as |
they ought TO be. 30 as to be sure not to ask |
too little. When the award com es ald proves
TO be perhaps one-third or one-ffth what has
been demanded some claimants have some
times good reason to he more than satisfied.
1t may well be asked. also whether our Gov
has not sustained Injury from these
sealers, under the award for the tribunal |
ex xpressly finds that unrestrAined pelsgic seal
seizures and warnings In question. 10 harmful |
70 the preservation OF the seal herd well as |
10 our property interests at tho Pribylov |
The question Of the value Of the ves- |
sells seized and Of their ownership was Of |
course reserved. TO be opened by the United |
States in any negotiations upon our liability |
10 pay damages