The record-union., 1894-04-06
BEHRING SEA CONTROVERSY.
Disappointment Over the Act of
the British Parliament.
THE LAW WILL NOT GOVERN THE
ACTION OF OUR CRUISERS
Twenty-three Indians and Fourteen
Soldiers Dead, the Result of the
Battle in Oklahoma Territory-The
Fight Reported to be Still On.
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.

WASHINGTON, April 5.-Some disap-
pointment has been expressed by public
men interested in the Behring Sea arbi-
tration, because of the inclusion in the
British bill of clause exempting from
its operation vessels that have cleared for
the seal waters before the PRONUNCIATION
of the law. 1t has been asserted that
more than fifty sealing vessels have al
ready cleared, and beyond doubt the entire
fleet, profiting by the hint conveyed,
may clear from port before the law is
duly proclaimed. in the expectation of
taking full cargo of skins before they
can be overtaken and served with notice
to stop hunting. OF course, if this were
permitted, the results of the arbitration
would be nullifed, for the reason that the
slaughter of seals would be immense and
permanently disastrous. and the state of
affairs would be even worse than last
year, when, under the restraining infiu-
ences of the modus UiUendi, the sealing
vessels captured about 100000 skins.
But the Canadian sealers are likely to
be sadly mistaken if they proceed upon
the theory that the British law will gov
ern the action of our cruisers. OF course
1t will be the guide for the British war
ships, but the failure of the British Act to
fully meet the spirit of the arbitration
will not prevent the United States from
carrying that agreement out according to
the provisions of our own Act, and the
Canadian sealing craft caught in forbid
den waters by American cruisers will be
seized, notice or no notice.
Senator Davis of the Committee of For
eign Relations said to-day that the bill
was inadequate, and does not 60 as far
as does the bill passed in the Senate
yesterday morning TO the prevention of
seal poaching. He took special excep-
tion to the clause providing the Act shall
not be enforced against vessel which
may have sailed previous to the publica-
tion of the Act, because the Pacific is now
covered with Canadian sealing vessels.
THE SUBJECT DISCUSSED IN THE COM
MONS.
LONDON, April 3. = Replying to Sir
George Baden-Powell to-day in the
House of Commons, Sydney Buxton said
the Canadian Government generally
agreed to that of Great Britain as to the
Behring Sea trouble, but the Canadian
Government objected to some of the de-
tails of the bill. Sir Charles Russell then
moved the second reading of the bill,
dwelling on the fact that the position
taken by the late Lord Idlesleigh on be-
half of Great Britain has been constantly
adhered to since. Sir Charles afterward
proceeded to justify the Governments
decision to submit the Behring Sea ques-
tion to arbitration. Sir Charles declared
that the award established the claim that
British subjects had been injured by the
seizure of their vessels, and he took the
opportunity to say that President Cleve-
land had not been slow TO recognize that
claim.
Mr.. Balfour said the course of the Gov
<art aar,f cd rxricn ho6 r1nff Lost
single moment in moving the adoption of
a bill to carry out Great Britain's ODliga-
tions, and in doing this act of interna-
tional justice he and his colleagues would
give their hearty support.
Sir George Baden-Powell strongly OBJ
jected to the treaty. Some Of the regula-
tions, he declared, were ridiculous. while
at the same time many important points
were not touched. Fur seals, he added,
could not be protected unless all modes
of slaughter were covered by the treaty.
Sealing vessels could fly the flags of ma
tions other than those to which they be-
longed, and thus escape the jurisdiction
of Great Britain and the United States.
The breeding grounds of the fur seals be-
long to Russia and Japan, and were en-
tirely ignored. Sir George concluded by
declaring that he intended to endeavor
to secure notifications of the bill in the
House.
Sir Richard Webster, formerly Attor-
ney-General, who with Sir Charles Rus
sell appeared as counsel for Great Britain
before the tribunal of arbitration, said
Sir George Baden-PoweIl did not repre-
sent the opinion of the opposition. He
did not think the protection of fur seals
would be objected to. II was great mis-
take to argue that the treaty gave Great
Britain the shadow and the United States
the substance. He added that he was
able to inform the House that the Ameri-
can bill had been passed by the Senate
and House of Representatives and would
now go to President Cleveland. He added
that the American bill was on the same
line as the one now before the House of
Commons. The treaty was distinct ad-
vance in the settlement of the dispute.
He could always remember his associa-
tion with the arbitration with the greatest
pride.
When Sir Richard had finished the bill
was placed on its second reading and
passed. The announcement of the vote
caused prolonged cheering.