The record-union., 1893-05-03
Dundee.
Special to the REcoRp-uN1ov.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
PARIS, May 1.-The Behring Sea tri-
bunal arbitration resumed its session
to-day, Lord Hannen, the British arbi-
TRAITOR, who has been i'll, being suffi-
ciently recovered to be present. j. G..
Carter, counsel for the United States,
maintained that the rights of the United
States in the Behring Sea were absolute
and unqualified. He argued over again
that the Government of the United States
was justified in protecting its rights in
those waters in time of peace as well
as any other time. He claimed the
United States had a right to seize vessels
caught in pelagic sealing. Assuming,
argued Carter, the rights of property of
the United States were admitted as
claimed, was the Government of the
United States to follow vessels found en-
gagged in pelagic sealing home in order to
claim redress for trespass against the
municipal law? This, he continued,
would not only be Intellectual, but would
not comport with the dignity of the
United States. No nation ever deigned
to resort to another nation for the en-
forcement of its municipal laws. The
only method open for the proper enforce
ment of such a law was the method of
force and that was justifiable in the case
of the Behring Sea, on the same ground as
in the cases of revenue and quarantine
laws.
Carter proceeded to argue on the SUBJ
ject of regulations, but was interrupted
by Sir Charles Russell of counsel for
Great Britain, who said that Great Brit
ain would not recede from the position
that the question of rights should be ar
gued apart from the question of regula-
lions. Sir Charles stated, however, that
he would not object to Carter presenting
statement of his views on the subject.
An animated discussion followed, in
which Baron de Courcel, President of the
Tribunal; American Arbitrator Harlan,
British Arbitrator Lord Hannen, Sir
Charles Russell and Hon. E. J. Phelps
took part. 1t was finally decided that
counsel for Great Britain should argue
the question of rights and the question of
regulations separately, but that the tri-
bunal would not give separate decisions.
Carter then proceeded with his argu-
ment. In his peroration he described the
slaughter of the female seals, heavy with
unborn young, and the other horrors of
pelagic sealing. To prevent these hor-
rors and to protect the seal herds, the
United States has taken the position
which he had explained to the best of his
ability. The United States has taken this
position at the risk of war with Great
Britain, and they have been ready to
maintain this position, and thus discharge
their duties to humanity, even if they
were obliged to face half the world in
arms. History would recognize their
rights and the justice of their cause. The
duty of the United States was not ex-
tinguished by the reference of this dis
pute to this tribunal, but that it had been
merely transferred. The United States
has withdrawn and left to arbitraries the
sacred duty of forbidding pelagic sealing
and contining seal killing to the islands.
II the tribunal should decline to assume
this duty, it would only leave for poster
ity a 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: "I cannot refrain from thanking
you, sir, for your magnificent speech,
which has been characterized by a lufti-
ness of view well worthy of this high
court"