Evening star., 1894-03-24
DON'T INTEND TO WAIT
England's Hardness Won't Save the
Bering Sea Pirates
Our Navy VIII Go Ahead Protectins
Seals Regardless OF Anyone Else
No Notice Required.

The naval bureaus whose business il is to
fit out our men-of-war for service are very
busy just now in getting together the sup
plies necessary for the Bering feet. The
repairs required by some of the vessels are
being made under difficulties. owing to the
low state of the appropriations available
for reconstruction and repair.
The dispatches from Canada intimating
that the results of the Bering sea arbitra-
ton are likely to fail of consummation, Cor
this season at least, owing to the dilatory
policy pursued by the British government
has produced no effect here. and the State
Treasury and Navy departments are max
ing their arrangements for the execution OF
the laws in the seal waters in the assump-
ton that full force and effect Is to be
given to the decision of the arbitrators.
which was go clearly expressed that there
is no chance of a misundersIanding.
The thoroughness of the instructions that
will be issued to the naval commanders of
our vessels bode Ill to the fortunes of any
craft, American or Canadian, shat may go
into the seal waters with the intention of
taking seals in violation Of the findings of
the arbitrators.
surely BE sei.ed.
1t is. OF course, desirable that these find-
ings take the form Of statutes i'm each of
the countries concerned, and to that end
the McCreary bill was submitted to the
House of Representatives. But regardless
Of this. the contention of the United States
is, and has been. that the findings of the
arbitrators is binding upon the two parties
to the treaty of arbitration, and that they
have even greater force than statutory law
The United States government proposes to
act upon this theory too, and offending
craft in forbidden waters will surely be
seized and the masters subjected TO the
penalties Of the law. Our government
would be glad to have and fully expects the
cooperation OF the British war vessels in
Its police duty, but the program outlined
VIII be carried out to the letter in any
event
No Further Notice.
There appears to be an impression in the
Canadian mind that the modus yiyendi nm
der which sealing was regulated last wear.
has expired. The United States government.
on the contrary, takes the ground that IL
remains In force until all of the findings Of
the arbitrators have been given effect, which
is not yet the case; and 1t proposes to act
upon that theory also. 1t will be useless
Tor piratical sealers to clear hastily for the
seal waters, hoping to profit by a large
eaten before they can be served with notices
OF the new regulations. for our government
II is said, takes the ground that ;hey have
already had ample notice OF the illegaIity
OF their proposed operations through the de-
cision of the arbitrators and the continu-
ance OF the modus vivendi, and they will be
seized without hesitation IL found in the
closed zone. Meanwhile the two govern
ments concerned are actively enya ged i'm tbe
enort to arrange the details Of a plan by
which their naval forces can work i'm har-
mony to carry out the results of the srhi
tration; and Sir Julian Pauncefote the Prit-
ish ambassador, had another long confer
ence today on the subject with Secretary
Gresham ho1
Senator Morgan, one of the Bering sea a-bi-
traitors.