Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-09
DISPUTED CLAUSE SEVEN
objection to the British Bering Sea
Bill.
Relieving Ignorant Vessel Owners of
the Penalties for Unlawful
Seal Catching.

LONDON. April 9-Mr. Thos F. Bayard,
the U. S. ambassador, was in conference
this sfteinoon with the officials of the
foreign office in regaid to the Boring sea
Dill now before the British house of COM
mons.
1t is Understood that the matters discussed
included the questions which were brought
up IN the United States Senate on Satur-
DAY last, most prominent of which was the
desire or certain Senators to know whether
IL was true that the British bill included
clause providing that all vessels seized
whose captains were unaware Of the pass
age OF the bill regulating the taking of
sssis snail be released, and the masters
thereof shall be acquitted.
AS result Of the conference at the for
eign office, the officials Of that department
or the government are cabling certain as
surances 10 washington in regard to clause
seven (the clause IN question:. which ttev
expect viii be entirely satisfactory to the
United States officials
In the house of commons today Sir Chas.
Russell, the attorney general who intro
duced the Boring sea BILL assured the house
that there was no serious difference Of onin-
ion between the government of Great Brit
ain and the government of the United
states in regard to the Boring sea question
In official circles here much surprise Is
expressed that there should be any obiec-
ton made to clause q.
1t is considered by the foreign Office off,
Gals that this provision is only what strict
justice demands They say that il is obyi-
ously absurd to condemn anyone for an
offense which it is impossible to bring to
his notice.
1t is added that when the captain and
owner of sealing vessel charged with
violating the provisions of the bill providing
for the enforcement of the award are able
to show that their vessel sailed before the
act was promulgated, they would, of course.
De acquitted by the courts; but the seal
ing of such a vessel would be Immediately
stopped and would result in considerable
loss to her owners.
In brief, the officials of the government
who have discussed the recent develop
ments OF the Boring sea question espe-
cially the controversy over clause seven,
consider the whole thing a mares nest {"
holding that the object of the act is to
stop unlawful fishing and saying that this
can certainly be done by the bill now be-
fore the house of commons.
The Officials who are competent to ex-
press an opinion upon the subject say that
the clause in dispute does not exempt any
vessel from seizure for violation of the
provisions of the bill and that il only ex-
empts those who have sailed prior to the
passage of the bill from the fines which
they might incur through unintentionally
violating the law.
Up to this afternoon the foreign Office had
received no direct representation whatever
from the United states on the point raised
in Washington in regard to clause seven
but Mr.. Bayard talked the matter over with
the secretary of state for foreign affairs
and received the assurances referred to in
this cable message
Mr. Bayard was assured that the pro-
visions of the British Boring sea bill were
Identical with those contained in the ltill
drawn up at Washington, but the differ
ences existing in the procedure of the Brit
ish and United States courts render IL nee.
essary that some Of the clauses should be
cast in a different manner.