Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-23

PARIS. June 2.-The Hon. +. j..
Phelps council for the United States
opened his argument In behalf OF the
contention OF the United States to-day
before the Berlng Sea Tribunal and his
address was brilliant one.
He said that the case presented only
two main queStions-havet the Canadians
and the renegade Americans who seek
the shelter OF the British hag in order
TO defy the avs OF their own country,
the right 70 continue destroying the seal
species, and II so what regulations are
necessary TO prevent the e1terminatlon
Of the seals.
Other questions might be involved,
but they were merely incidental. Amer
lea, he added, claims that the eiDdiscrim-
mate destruction Of the seals, including
the slaughter OF the gravid animals,
proceeding toward the Pribyloh Islands,
the herding grounds, and OF the mothers
seeking food az sea, Is inhuman, barbar-
Gus and q violation OF the laws OF all
civilized nations for the protection OF
wild animals In their breeding season.
Such slaughter, he eontended, must
eventually result in extingulShiRg q
valuable industry established for nearly
q century by Russia, and maintained by
America since the cessiOn OF Alaska TO
the Uuited States by the Russian gov
ernment. The British claimed the right
70 exterminate she species for the sake OF
a small temporary profit They did not
meet the question as 20 whether the
right exists, but exhausted the resources
OF the ablest advocacy 70 evade 10.
The British counsel approached the
question In every direction except
STRAIGHTFORWARD one. They pretended
to INQUIRE whether the United States
were justified in selling British vessels
engaged in pelsgic seal hunting.
Mr.. Phelps declared that there
was no such question before
the tribunal. The arbitratOrs were not
concerned in the question OF past seiz-
ures except as TO the finding Of the nee
essary facts on which 70 base future
negotiations Counsel having agreed
upon the facts, the tribunal ought 20
dismiss the matter OF the seizures.
After remsrking that the British as
sertiOn that the United States wished
to declare BerinR sea mare clGttsl,Tn was
untrue, Mr.. Phelps said that the Seiz-
ures Of pelagic sealing vessels were ef-
fected under the Amsrican claim TO the
right % protect the seals. The United
States government had next endesvored
20 obtain a convention, which, waving
rights, would preserve the seals. The
convention was only defeated BY Cana
da's interference on the ground that
protecti on was needless, after an agree
ment respecting close season had
failed.
Thr0ughOut the negotiations, Mr..
Phelps said, Great Britain had never
defended pelagic sealing, but while de-
nying the Americans the right 90 pro-
tect themselves against the British,
Lord Salisbury had professed a readi-
ness 20 accept all regulations necessary
10 preserve the seals, proposing a
Joint commission 10 this end.
Now Great Britain had veered
round after the arbitration treaty had
been concluded. and based her case
upon an elaborate defence Of pelagic
sealing. insisting that no regulations
would be acceptable 70 her which were
inconsistent with the prosperity Of the
pelagic hunters.
Mr.. Phelps then began criticism OF
Charles Russel's arguments on inter
national law.