The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-06-14
THE BERING SEA DISPUTE.
Frederick II. COudert Talks of the
Case.

New York, June l1.-Frederick r.
BerinR sea case, whose arrival was no
ticed in these dispatches, talked entertain
ingiy about the high tribunal before
which he recently made lengthy argu-
ment. Mr.. Coudert said he thought Mr..
Phelps In his closing argument would oc-
cupy probably two weeks. His argument
will necessarily deal with every feature
OF the case put forward by the other
counsel, and he will reply to the argu-
ments of che English lawyers.
"Mr. Carter opened our case in very
clear and thorough manner" said Mr..
Coudert. "The contentious of the two
countries could not have been presented
in any clearer manner than they have
been by the counsel on either side.
II see that since l left Sir Charles
Russell has been speaking again upon the
o-called regulations. In case the high
tribunal holds that our claim to property
rights is not sustained, II becomes a ques-
tion as to what rules shall be formulated
to preserve the seals from destruction.
There seems to be, went on Mr.. Cou-
dert, "a misconception as to the real and
principal question in the case. On the
part of many it is supposed that the
United States claims the whole OF Bering
sea-that is the part ceded by Russis-as
territorial waters, and there has been a
great deal OF discussion as TO whether or
not it was q mare clausem, and we'll
informed persons have supposed that un-
less this claim is sustained the United
ell D..S
has a much stronger case than that. Apart
and independent OF any exclusive and
peculiar right of Jurisdiction to the waters
OF Bering sea, or part of il. the United
States claims that its substantial interest
in the seals which frequent il justifes
the repression of their indiscriminate aud
wanton destruction. Every Canadian
poscher who kills q seal within one or
two hundred miles from the Pryby-
loft islands knows-if he knows any
thing-that the seal he was slRughtering
was born on that part of American terri
tory. The government of the United
States, through its lessees, is in
terested in the raisin >. of the seals on its
territory, and such seals are under its con-
troll and subject to its powerful protection.
This country has claimed and still claims
shat in insisting on its rights to rspel an
invasion OF It's DOMAIN Dy the
destruction OF its property it is not
seeking to establish a new precedent.
international law is progressive
science. Its germs are founded in reason
and necessity. Necessity is really its pa
rent. and where reason applies rules must
follow"
The counsel for the United States. Mr..
Coudert explained, were being governed
in the presentation of their arguments by
these salient features. No one, he said,
could say what the result of the arbitra-
ton would be. He had seen or heard
nothing wilhelm attendance at the sessions
that had led him to change the views he
held before sailing from New York.
One very pertinent question he had not
heard answered was what would Great
Britain DO should fleet of dredgers go
from this country and poach upon the
Irish oyster beds that are beyond the
thrse-mile limit? Local laws now pre-
vent the English fishermen from dis
turbing them, and be had asked, without
being answered, whether England would
fail to prevent the encroaohments of
other nationalities to whom her local laws
did not apply.