The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-13
ENGLAND AFTER A GRAB.
Her Berin5 Sea PlGaderS Showing Her
Hand,

Her Aim is TO Clinch Heavy Damages
if She Can Prove the Seizures IL
Observation-Disclosures Phelps Explains
That the Damages to Be Paid Must
Be Settled BY Congress.
Paris, May l2.-Sir Charles Russell con-
tinued his address in behalf of the British
case before the Bering sea tribunal of ar
bitration to-day. Sir Charles dis
cussed the rights Of Russia in
tween Russia and the United States, and
between Russia and Great Britain. Sir
Charles contended that the treaties in
question recognized merely territorial
rights Sir Charles then went into an
analysis of the American statutes relating
to Bering sea, and argued that the stat
utes in question were territorial in their
character and not applicable to foreigners
THE FORGED INTERPOLATION.
Sir Charles Russell referred to the
forged Interpolation in the American case
as originally presented and argued that
when the forgeries were extracted from
the case nothing remained of the rights
claimed to have been derived from Rus
sia. The American agent, John
w. Foster, explained that the
contents Of the documents were
unknown until the American
case was prepared. AS soon as the forg-
cry was discovered the documents were
withdrawn. Sir Russell replied that
while the documents had been withdrawn
the formal case pending on the docu-
ments had not been materially changed.
Mr. Phelps of the American counsel
ppfOIstp1 that tho Anp1sin1n pn Ia hqn hppn
restated in the counter case. The discus
sion was of an acrimonious character, the
proceedings since Sir Russell began hav-
ing been characterized by more heat and
temper than at any time since
the opening of the tribunal. The Incl
dent yesterday which seemed to threaten
the success of the arbitration was based
upon difference of opinion between the
American and British representatives as
to the liability of the United States for
the seizures made in Bering sea, in the
event of a decision against the United
States on the question of jurisdiction.
ANXIOUS TO MuLCT Us.
The heat exhibited by Lord Hannen,
one Of the British arbitrators, is consid-
cred an indication that Great Brituin an
ticipates favorable decision on the issue
Of jurisdiction, and is anxious TO mulct
the United States as heavily as possible
in a pecuniary way.
1t was Sir Charles Russell who brought
out, through an illusion in his argument,
the purpose Of the British Sir Charles
referred to the powers of the tribunal Of
arbitration in regard to causing to be in
Identified those who had been at loss
| through the assertion by either Great
! Britain or the United States, of the al
! legged rights declared by the
! tribunal to have no real foundation.
| Lord Hannen asked if the tribunal
! should pronounce Judgment on the facts
of the seizures and should set the names
and nationalities and also the ownership
of the vessels seized, and should ut the
same time decide separately on the gen
eral question to the effect that the United
| States had not the right Of jurisdiction
| claimed by it, it would not necessarily
| follow that the United States would ac-
! cord damages
| The American counsel, Mr.. Phelps, re-
! piled that he would give no guarantees in
! behalf of the government Of the United
| States. The treaty stated that the ar.
! bitratOrs must carefully settle the facts
of the seizures. Further questions as &c
liability and the amount of damage must
| be settled by negotiations between the
two governments The arbitrators had
no right to fix the liability price person
| ally. Mr.. Phelps added that he did not
doubt that if the question as to the right
Of jurisdiction should be decided against
the United States, the United States
would accord damages.
Lord Hannen (warmly)-Then the
whole arbitration is useless.
Senator Morgan--It would be impossi-
BILE even for the President Of the United
! States to give guarantee regarding the
result of future negotiations, as when
such negotiations are completed they must
be confirmed by two-thirds vote Of the
! Senate in their favor.
This terminated the incident, which
evidently left a deep impression on all
| concerned in the case, and was followed
to-day by more interchanges of some
what acrimonious character.