The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-23
JOHN BULL is DODGING.
Indications That He Will Not Live
Up to His Bargain.
T1NGLE SAM MAY HAVE TO PROTECT
THE SEALS SINGLE HANDED.

Admiral Walker Ordered to the Pacific
Serious - The Bill Prepared by the
British Foreign Office Would Seem to
Indicate a Disposition to Shirk the
Duties Imposed by the Arbitration.
Washington, March 22.-Secretary
Gresham appeared before the House
foreign affairs committee today with re-
ference to the legislation connected with
the Behring seal fisheries. Several weeks
ago, Mr.. McCreary, chairman OF the COM
mittee, introduce bill, drawn pursu-
ant to the suggestion for regulations
made by the Behring sea arbitrators pro-
viding for concurrent legislation by
Great Britain and the United States. At
the meeting today the fact was developed
that some of our public men DO not
think legislation necessary to carry these
regulations into effect. Senator Morgan
of Alabama, one of the American arbl-
traitors, holds this view. He believes the
treaty might be considered as executing
itself. through the executive branch OF
the government. The conversation in the
committee room was informal 1t was
obvious from the suggestions advanced
that the committee, as whole, ulHereo
widely from Senator Morgan's conclu-
sions, as does the attorney general. Ihe
mem bers of the committee are reticent
about what occurred at today's session,
hut il is learned from another source
that Secretary Gresham informed the
committee that as yet Great Britain has
taken no action looking to the introduce
tion of a bill in the British Parliament
with an intent similar TO tnat OF tne NC
Creary BILL Secretary Gresham in
formed the committee that a bill had
been drafted by the British foreign
office, and it's principal provisions were
recited to the committee by che Secre-
tary. The British draft is a longer and
more complicated document than the
McCreary bill, and is obviously drawn to
make punishment tor its violation as
light as possible upon the poachers. 1t
provides punishment not exceeding one
hundred pounds for any master OF
vessel who may be caught sealing un-
lawfully. The court may, it it chooses,
impose penalty of not more than one
pound. The British government has
assured Secretary Gresham, through its
minister here. that this bill, unsatls-
| factory as it manifestly is to Secre-
| tary Gresham and to the members of the
| foreign affairs committee, will be passed
| through the British Parliament in time
to take effect before the sealing season
begins The McCreary bill will be con-
sidered by the committee at the next
| meeting and Immediately after it is re-
| ported to the House an effort will be
| made to secure its consideration on the
| ground that the exigencies of the case
| demand that it pass both houses Of Con-
| press and be signed by the President
| without unnecessary delay.
| 1t is believed in we'll informed naval
| and diplomatic circles that the Behring
| sea matter is assuming an aspect of
| grave Importance and the recent sudden
| changes in the assignment of naval
| officers are ascribable to this cause. The
visit of Secretary Gresham to the House
| committee on foreign affairs today, Sir
| Julian Pauncefote's Intellectual attempt
at later period of the day to see the
Secretary of State and significant re-
marks attributed to Sir John Thompson
| in the Canadian Parliament are all
| taken together to mean that there is far
from smooth sailing ahead in Behring
sea affairs. Late this afternoon, Secre-
| tary Herbert acknowledged that the
rumors that Commodore Kirkland's or
ders had been revoked just as he was on
the point of leaving for San Francisco
relieve Admiral Irwin, and that Admiral
Walker had been assigned to an import
ant command were true.
Admiral Walker will command the
Pacific squadron this summer and Com
modore Kirkland will go to the South
Atlantic. In some quarters the selection
of Admiral Walker is taken as an idica-
tion that diplomacy has failed to settle
the seal question and the United States
is making an effort to be prepared for a
single handed execution of the Paris
tribunals award, if England fails to do
her part.