New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-28
BEHRING SEA BLUNDERS.
AMAZING INCAPACITY DISPLAYED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION.
REGULATIONS FOR THE COMING SEASON WHICH
TRIBUNAL AND MAKE roACHlNG PROF
TABLE GRESHAM OUTWITrED BY
SIR JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE
AID DIR. DAWSON.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIGrHE.I

Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIEUHE.I
washington April g7.-Except in relation to Ha-
wall and Samoa. with the incidents Of which the
...blic is familiar. there is perhaps no part OF the
volume Foreign Relations, 1891" just published,
which shows 50 much !ncaTaclty on the part OF
the Administration in respect to the international
affairs of the country as is found in the Bchrns
Sea controversy. Daily. Just now, the state De
partrent is doing out chapters Of Tie volume con
tanning communications sent out and received ny
It In the course Of last year. 1t is not. however
directing attention 30 the correspondence in the
Bohrng sea controversy which covers about lt'
pages of the volume This correspondence is inter
esting throughout and should receive consideration
1t shows clearly that the interests Of the country
have been neglected by the Secretary Of state ana
that In further pursuing the subject Mr.. Gresham
Is losing sight OF the fact that the regulations OF
the Paris award are sufficient for the purpose or
protecting the seal herd II effectal subre yulations
are framed and faithfully executed. As has been
pointed out in these dspa chcs the existing rcGu-
lations draw up prevent relagic sealing do not
accomplish The end in view. on the contrary. they
are actually favorable to pOachng. Last season
the pelagc catch was 1900 seals>a catch larger
by thousands than that of any preceding season.
The regulations are the result OF many serious CON
ferenccs AT the State Department between Secre-
tary Gresham representing the United States. Sir
Julian Pauncefote, representing England and Dr
Da wson, representing Canada. The newly issued
volume OF Foreign Relations SHOWS lnal lnfI' ~
a great difference between what Mr.. Gresham pro-
posed in the way Of regulations and the rules finally
adopted
To secure fun appreciation Of the seriousness
Of the incapacity of the State Department In the
matter, the fact must I've borne in mind that as
senator Morgan has pointed out. the object OF the
Paris Tribunal was to render poachng in Behring
Sea impractcabe and Improbable. The evidence
before tho Tribunal senator Morgan. one of the
arbitrator. has said. conclusive that p'ach'rs
relied chiefly other means than spears with
which to slaughter the seals. While deernlns it adj
visabe TO frame regulations covering various feat
ures OF the question before them. the arbtrltors
thought 1t Of great Importance that the use Of nets
firearms and explosives should l." forbidden In fur
seal fishing 1t therefore agreed that tho reGu
lation on this subject should be clear and con-
elusive without Limitation qualification at any
place or any time within Behring Soa
II IS seen from the volume Of Foreign Rela-
tons" that January a. 1894. Mr.. Gresham Enclosed
In communication 30 SIR Julian Paunccfot" draft
minutes OF proposed agreement - make operative
tho regulations OF TIE Paris Tribunal The first
nine Articles OF the suggested asrcemen' repeated
in Identical terms the spending articles o. the
regulations decided upon 10y tho Tribunal The
other five articles contained stipuatons essentially
connected with the preceding nine. and related
to the enactment OF necessary Laws, me policing
Of the seas the imposition 90 penalties. N" ld"nu-
hcatlon OF vessels and other details. AT''" VI
OF the draft minutes r"a0S az lOuoNN
The use AZ nets firearms and eSplosyrS snall ne
forbidden In the seal fishing THIS restic
ton shall apply 20 sno,suns "h.n srch .sh .
when Il he lawfully carried on
Had Mr. Gresham secured The adoption o; 'ht
article he drew g. the pclagc eaten o. IaS year
would have been insignificant "a compared Win 'hN
vas, number OF seals slaughtered. shortly AFTER
the propos,tlon was submitted 20 Sir Julian con-
ference, were held a, the state Department In
the course OF the deliberations the Sccr"taiN "i
State was twice outwitted. II appears thai on May
the conferrees adopted an article "hch pro'I"el
in effec' tina: any vessel having hcens" 20 NUM-
for seals I'm the North Pacific and Hehring SEA east
o, lSn degrees longitude shall. before entering h~h
ring Sea. or a, Unalaska report - customs ON.
Ger OF the United On" % -" United
states Navy. and have all arms ana ammunition
therefor on board secured under seal Si'H 4'"'
was not 20 be broken except by a customs "'h''r
q, tho United states or an Office OK IN" Navy
Tho breaking OF the seal othcrw!s~ was 20 result
On tho forfeiture Of the vessels lircus" Any seal
ing vessel found IN the prohibited waters O: the
North Pacific between May and july 81. Dom H.
elusive could be seized. II there was evidence 'ha'
she had violated the law. Accordingly Secretary
Gresham telegraphei 10 Mr. Bayard on the same
day that this regulation would be enforced hu'
in saying he spoke hastily. and without du" re-
gard 70 the asiuteness OF the British Ambassador
and the Canadian agent This regulation dia ho'
carry out the intent OF the Paris Tribunal "s II
authorized weapons other than spears on podrd
poaching vessels The results would have been bet
Ter however than followed under the rules finally
adopted on May Sir Julian and Dr. DAWSON
again visited the state Department, and advised
tho rcoIenlng Of this feature Of tho controversy.
The suggestion was compiled with. most uniof'u-
na,ely for American interests. be It said. IN the
course OF the conference TINS aruc'e WAS
agreed to:
Any vessel having license TO hunt fur seals In Ine
North Pacific and Behring Sea east OF lso degrees
l9ns5gts may sSo, oeoTe customs SGis ocer q he
state or an officer OF the United states Navy
ana nav al arms arms a sns, s"h seal shall no, be-
broken during the time fur sea hshing - hromo oh
area Of the award between April 30 and August J.
hat which have not violated the law, from improper
applying TO the commander Of any cruiser or 70 a
cistoms officer and declaring that she intends TO-
secured under seal and the officer placing ds sea-
with tho number OF sealskns and bodies Of seals
then on board ana said sea- s nr nS
This ought to have contented Sir Julian aud Or
Dawson as It only put n thin piece OF sealing wax
he tween the seal robbers and the possibility of n
heavy catch Seeing their advantage. these clever
diplomats demanded more, and got II. Foreign
Relations does not show whether or not Mr. Ores
ham objected to Great Britain having the earth"
but IT does show that OF the meeting another article
known No In the existing regulations was
adopted. The article reads In part:
Vessels now in japanese waters or on the ST.
berlan coast Of $50 degrees longitude. wishing
TO return to a home port, may enter the port OF
Alton and there have their sealing outfits secured
under seal. and the fact entered their loRDooks.
Such entry shall constitute a sufficient protection
against seizure whilst within the area OF the awarl.
That Is TO say. the Secretary OF State signed
agreement providing that firearms nets and
posvcs might be carried by poachers-Tobbers on
the high scns--providing the same had sealing wax
on them. placed there by duly authorized Official
and that II vessels logbook showed an entry TO
the effect that these implements Of slaughter had
once been sealed the fact was to be regarded "a
conclusive proof OF the honesty OF character and
purpose of poachers caught within the prohibited
waters any time In the period when IL In Viola
ton OF decree OF the Paris Tribunal for them to
be there. Thus the intent OF the arbitrators was
defeated. the restriction OF sealing weapons 10
spears set aside. and the business OF poachng made
profitable. Mr. Gresham made wise beginning
toward the adoption of suitable rules to make the
regulations OF the tribunal operative. but the skill