The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-04-05
BEHRINC SEA COURT.
The Arbitrators Begin Their Work
in Paris.
MANY AMERICAN LADIES PRESENT
Sir Charles Russell and Ex-Attorney Gen.
erai Webster Open the Argument for
Great Britain-Messrs. Phelps and Carter
Reply on Behalf of the United States,

Sir Charles Russell and Ex-Attorney Gem
eral Webster Open the Argument for
Great tBritain-sIessrs. Phelps and Carter
Reply on Behalf of the United States,
PARIS. April 5.-The court of arbitration
to pass upon the differences between Great
Britain and America az to the seal fisheries
In Behring sea, began its session yesterday
In large apartment in the office of the
French foreign minister. Many American
ladies were among the audience. Among
them were Mrs. Foster Mrs. Phelps, Mrs.
Coudert, Mrs. Harlan, Mrs. Morgan and
Mrs. Lansing and Miss Halford, Miss FL
kins, Miss Cockrell and Miss Shields.
General Williams and his wife, United
States Minister Coolidge, Lord Coleridge,
chief justice of England, and Lord Shand
were also present.
Sir Charles Russell, the British attorney
general, Of counsel for Great Britain,
opened the arguments by moving that Mr..
Campbell should furnish to the court a
copy of the report of Sir Henry Elliot on
the Behring sea question. Ex-Attorney
General Webster spoke in support Of the
motion, and Mr.. Phelps and Mr.. j. G.
Carter, of counsel for the United States,
delivered addresses In reply.
Mr.. Phelps said In his argument that the
United States communicated the original
report in February. Mr.. Carter contended
that the United States would be justified
In refusing to produce the report asked
for but would produce it in order to re-
move the causes of British caviling.
Sir Charles Russell then demanded the
production of the Elliot report, basing his
application ON article 4 of the treaty Of
arbitration.
M l. Ill. "a n
States denied that the report was referred
to In the American case. He said that it
was simply referred to in the counter case,
to which article Of the treaty did not
refer. Mr.. Phelps further denied that il
was admissible in law that one party
should have the power to force an adver-
sary to produce any document, simply be-
cause the adversary desired to use 1t in
evidence Nevertheless he would produce
the report, as ho did not wish to engender
the suspicion Of a desire to suppress evil
dence, but after this concession he would
decline to produce any further evidence.
After the recess Mr., Carter submitted
for consideration a motion that the tri-
bunal dismiss from the arbitration SO
much of England's demand as relates to
America, referring to the expenditure for
supreme court proceedings. The motion
contemplated also the dismissal of the
clause concerning pelagic sealers. Mr..
Phelps moved the rejection Of the report
of the Behring sea commission put in evi-
dence at the first meeting of the arbitra-
tors. His arguments in support of this
motion were mostly technical. His ad-
dress will be concluded today.
Ex-Secretary of State John w. Foster
was questioned yesterday In regard to the
erroneous translation of certain Russian
documents represented to have been used
to uphold the American case. Mr.. Foster
said that the errors Of the translation had
been discovered by the United States gov
ernment and the enormously translated
documents had been withdrawn, along with
the arguments based upon them. The in
situations of the British newspapers were
therefore utterly unfounded aud unworthy
of attention.