The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-10
THE BEHRlNG SEA QUESTION.
THE .iRBITEl7ION AT PARIS 4
FARCE.
y,.... or IN German omntist-president
u,rri.on- Mistake Tends 10 Prevent
s.r,ou. International Arbitrntion..

hov little public opinion IN tne UnheS states
IA. concerned itself with tho great Behrine
s0a question. Tho American contention be-
,.,o tbs arbitra:ors fairly glowed with senti-
r,a,tL emotion over the woes and wrongs to
a,nich the harmless, unnecessary" seal has
hoen subjected rs ruthless pirates prowling
nvor the Pacific Ocean to intercept and slay him
IN his way back from unknown waters to his
bon, under the Star Spangled Banner. But
erloye to say that have not met q single tray
sIrnr American of Intelligence. or for that
ro.,er n single Fnglishman, during the last
,h,sn months who had read so much as ono Of
ali the speeches made on both sides during
ths arbitration, or who In fact seem cd to know
ar to care anything about IT. excepting that It
had como of for tho purpose OF preventing
what dipomatlsts call rupture between
the two great countries represented before
the Board. II is painful to have to say this
hut It Is true. And since the decision was
rendered such Americans as havo met seem
less DESTROYS than ever to hear or to say any
thing about the matter. while such English
men as have met content themselves with
modestly intimating that there is nothing to
exult about in tho decision. because as they
nut 1t. Everybody always knew that the
Americans had not leg to stand upon"
The shrewdcst and liveliest rem arks called
u
German diplomatist OF rank and experience.
whose name l have no right to use. He
summed UP his view OF the result by saying:
"Ithnk it very clever decision on q very
ridiculous controversy. The arbitrator have
made love very fairly to both sides They have
given Great Britain both the shells OF the
oyster and given the oyster to the United
States What more could they dol"
When | pressed for an explanation OF this
summary proposition and demurred to the
somewhat contemptuous view which 1t i'm
piled Of the great seal question. my German
very good naturally assumed o more grave
and Pickwiokian expression OF countenance
"Ohw he said. do not think 1 underrate
the Importance OF sealskin coats and pelisses.
II Is very good fur, somewhat lacking In
character perhaps. and Of late. think, rather
going out OF fashion. And. OF course. q large
number OF people earn their livelihood by
killing these interesting animals in the Pacific
or dressing their skins in London. not to men
ton the excellent people who at Leipsio and
elsewhere would lose good market for
counterfeit sealskins II it were once known
that the seal as species had ceased to exist.
Vested interests. even in the hands OF the
children OF Israel II am not an anti-Semitel.
are always respectable.
moved to tears over tho question whether the
seals Of the Pacific Ocean should be killed on
the Pribylov Islands for the profit Of an Amer
lean seal company. holding an American mo-
nopoly. or killed at random all over the Pacific
Ocean for the profit Of enterprising Canadi-
ansI When tho sentimental considerations
were urged with infinite pathos after good
luncheon on the Quai 'Orsay by the American
advocates. and nothing kindles philanthropy
better than q really good luncheon with cham
payne frappa French colleague Of mine OBJ
served to me under his moustache: This is
very touching. but II the intelligent seals
could speak perhaps they would say they pre-
ferred not to be killed anywhere by anybody
Is not this probable? What interest can the
seals have in the si1ty-mile limit recon-
mended by the arbitrators2 A limit Of Elk
Ing would have suited them better. ''
Then you regard the whole arbitration"
1sIgGested as solemn and costly farce2"
II DO not say that No there is a serious side
To- 70 the business, but it is not SO apparent as
lido not think that either your People I or the the
English people are in hurry to have this Sc
floas side honestly looked ut and stated not
which all Governments spend SO much Of
SSIher peoples money. but in terms OF fact.
lol ask me to tell you what I regard as the
affair Wen: have no objeotiona This srbie
tration at Paris. in my Judgment must throw
principle of arbitration. Every one familiar
with the history Of the controversy sees that |
one decision Is simply sham and an evasion.
men IN worry civil and solemn phraseology
tssn me only question Of real material value at
Britain was this: Shall the Canadians be per-
mitted to have any share In the business Of |
e ca h seals which. wherever they may live.
OF the year. may be found and are found. in |
sle sea waters. which battle the Canadian as
S Ssy,n as the American shores The Amerlcqns
seal fisheries to an American company Il be-
I MsN It has many British stockholders). nat
th seals alone, AS the Canadians. relying on
t t% support Of Great Britain. would not stand
do s s' Wher an sent cruisers to make them
canadians. They might either let the seals
ami sy the nteps IN the
ue! me Canadian but under the British flag
PresdenT Mr remember that when your late
nast a ne mon of-wsr into the Pacific to
p parK t M canadian vessels home, Lord Sails
despatch t tn EpsTTer 81 the Ganadans sent
american ships. troubled the Canadians
e ST,tish ships would protect them That was
sf a.. laughingl have learned from you to call
den sn5 M game Of bluff think your Presi-
~ - anu NJ. blalne then allowed themselves
~ 10 pulled by the English Premier. very
s so man, and not unfamiliar with that
talne. Those who know tho real position OF
bhnglala IN regard both to her internal and
t nef external relations know perfectly well
n shn NO H. BFiIsh vessel would, eyer have fired
tbeIr hal Mr. Harrison and Mr. Blaine sent
SSa eir american squadron into the Behring
80 s NOlhing is more easy than for an intelli-
nsnt naval officer never to be Mt any partic
S,aeo N wide waste OF waters where he
t tnpWs tnht his Government does not wish him
s nv pc But Mr.. Harrison rescinded his orders
sna sent no squadrons. That, in my opinion.
ma mas mistake. BUTT was greater mistake, In
M OF OPINION for Mr.. Harrison to air grand views
d. IN, His own about mare cldusu,n, and rights
e. s' a rom Russia. and to ask Great Britain
A, s.eelt those as reasons why the Ameri-
I'm fSSa' would not let the Canadians NEEDLE with
w"rj en- .lcan monopoly of seal fishing. 1t
montu nave been moro sensible In my judg-
tLa ! Simply 20 assert the monopoly and police
ny" nj nonrlng Sea with ships to enforce It, All
tha itre men on land and sea sometimes exceed
W; Tb aS,n0 pity but that can be explained
Sc, rw never was any war in the Behrtne |
oTs.tt uestion any more than In the Alabama
hsySs s'on I'll, lhere never has been and there
hsttwwoo VII be an arbitration in any question
anv "v 80" powerful nations in which there turks
Ways ' pa perli OF war All such questions al
later n s,, been and always will be. sooner or
Ioot' See'ued by war. and not by arbitration.
raNI1v ~ the question OF Slam, which arose
4 Ira 4