The sun., 1894-03-23
THE BEHRING SEA DISPUTE.
INDICATIONS THAT IT ~ ASSUMING a
SERIOUS ASPECT

The Rscs-t susse. Ch.-ses .. the Assign
us-t OF Nsvs, Omeers Believed 60 Ne
Du. 20 ths Feet that the U.itsa States
Ar. Preparing TO Ezseute si.eie Hand
ed the Awards OF the Paris Tribunal.
WASHINGTON March 22-It is believed in
well-informed naval and diplomatic circles
that the BehrinR Sea question Is assuming an
aspect Of grave and serious i'm mportance and
that recent sudden changes In the assign
ment Of naval offlcers are ascribable to this
cause. The visit Of Secretary Gresham to the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs to-day.
Sir Julian Psuncefote's Intellectual attempts
at q later period Of the day to see the Secre-
tary OF State. and the significant remarks at
tributed to Sir John Thom pson In the Cana
dian Parliament yesterday. all taken together.
are mplied to mean that there IL far from
smooth sailing ahead in BehrinR Sea affairs
Late this afternoon Secretary Herbert who
had earlier In the day positively declined either
to affirm or deny rumors which had been given
out that Commander Kirkland's orders had
been revoked Just as he was on the point Of
leaving for San Francisco to relieve Admiral
Irwin. and that Admiral John q. Walker had
been assigned TO an important command. ac-
knowledged that both statements were true
Admiral Walker will command the Pacific
squadron this summer. and Commod odore Kirk
land will go to the South Atlantic. Admiral
stanton will remain for the present In COM
mand OF the home station.
Among the reasons advanced for giving Ad-
miral Walker another tour OF sea duty. so soon
after he had finished his last cruise. IL the
great i'm portsnce Of the Pacific station Just at
this time and the marked ability Of Admiral
Walker to cope with the delicate subjects that
may OF necessity be presented to the Ameri-
wal Gaiisn % matters. but also % BECAUSE @ V of Behrine
sea complications The Pacific station covers
Sns th MhGS sD.u T;s5n sSa n. pSssns Of sS
Sstion. sIeept from tn. state Of Wsshin Fton,
sncs and good judem ent is required; II is be.
coniid snce in Admiral Walker or he could not
have. been selected for the duty. IN some
that diplomacy has failed to settle the seal
question. and that the United States 10 making
to ss pSts ni h Rn
ssers.sry Gresham appeared before the
with the SshSIns seal lsSsIi.s 81 Ss;;;5sl IA
puIsusnt 70 the spssestiOn Of The .ssulations
ma %sds es sas RsasGs sts
and the United States At the meeting
ths the fact was Ss Dot
think legislation necessary to carry these
regulations into effect. Senator Morgan
OF Alabama, who was one Of the American
arbitrators, holds this view. He believes that
the treaty might be considered as executing
Itself through the executive branch OF the
Government From the suggestions made in
the committee room this morning regarding
this and other points under discussion it was
obvious that the committee as whole dif
fered widely from Senator Morgan's con-
clusions as does also the Attorney-General.
Secretary Gresham informed the com mittee
that while no bill had been tntrodueed IN the
OF the McCreary bill. . bill had been drafted
by the British Foreign once. and Its principal
provisions were recited to the committee by
the Secretary. II was obviously drawn
poaehers II pISvide, tST sxampls; punish; 3;
2 vessel who may be caught sealing unlsw-
pose a penalty OF not more than Fl. The
British Goyernme ent has assured Secretary
Gresham through it's Minister here that this
bill. unsatisfactory as It manifestly is to tho
Secretary and to the members OF the Foreign
Affairs Committee. will be passed through the
British Parliament In time to take effect be-
fore the sealing season begins.
The McCreary bill 10 to be considered by the
committee at their next meeting. and imme-
dlately after it is reported to the House an
effort will be made to secure its consideration,
on the ground that the exigencies OF the case
demand that 1t pass both Houses OF Congress
aud be signed by the President without un-
necessary delay.