The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-03
Close OF a Remarkably Strong Ad-
dress Before the Bering
Sea Court.
Mr.. Garter Is Publicly ConRratu-
lated by the President Of
the Court.
F0rceful Presentation Of tho Case on Be-
half Ut the United States-The
Closing Portion.

PARIS. May 2--The Boring sea tribunal
of arbitration resumed its session to-day.
Lord Hannen. the British arbitrator who
has been i'll, being sufficiently recovered to
be present. j. G. Carter, counsel for the
United States, maintained that the rights
OF the United States in Bering sea were alb
aolute and unquslifisd. He argued over
again that the government Of the United
States was justified in otecting its right
In thoss waters in time of peace az we'll as
any other time. He claimed that the
United States had right to seize vessels
caught in pelagic sealing. Assuming, ar
Rued Garter, that the rights of property of
the United States were admitted. as claimed.
should the government of the United States
follow vessels found in pelaqio sealing
homo in ordar to claim redress for trespass
against municipal law? This. he con-
tinusd, would not only be Intellectual but
would not comrort with the dignity
of the United States. No nation
had ever deigned to resort to another
nation for the enforcement Of municipal
laws. The only method open for the proper
enforcement of such a law was the method
of force. as that was justiiable in the case
of the Boring sea. as in the cases of revenue
and quarantine laws.
Garter proceeded to argue on the subject of
| regulation. but was interrupted by Sir
Britain. who said Great Britain would not
recede from the position tnat the question
of rights should be argued apart from the
question OF regulation. Sir Charles stated,
however. that he would not object to Carter
presenting a statement of his views on the
subject. An animated discussion followed
in which the president of the tribunal.
American Arbitrator Harlan, British Arbi-
TRAITOR Lord Hammer, Sir Charles Russell
and Hon. E. j. Phelps took part. 1t was
finally decided that counsel for Great
Britain should argue the question of rig hts
and the question of regulation separately,
but that the tribunal would not give sepa-
rate decisions. Garter then proceeded with
the argument.
In tho peroration. Carter described tho
slaughter of female seals. heavy with un-
born young. and other horrors of pslagiC
sealing. To prevent these horrors and pro-
tect the seal herds the United Statss has
taken the position which he had explained
States had taken this position at the risk
of war with Great Britain. and they had
been ready to maintain the position, and
thus discharge their duties to humanity.
even II they we're Obliged to face half the
world in arms. History would recognize
their rights and the justice Of their cause.
Tho duty of the United States VAS not ex-
tinRuished by the reference of the dispute
to this tribunal. but that had been merely
transferred. The United States had with
drawn and left to the arbitrators the sacred
duty of forbidding pelaRie sealing and con-
fninR seal killing to the islands. If the
tribunal should decline to assume this
duty. 1t would only leave for poste ity q
new source of contention.
From beginning to end Carter had
spoken forty hours. As he sat down. Baron
de Courcel, president of the court said: II
cannot refrain f'om thanking you, sir. for
this magnificent speech, which has been
characterized bv a loftiness of view well
worthy this high oourt.''