The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-11

Sir Edward Gray's Statements m the ""'''
of conn,cps Cause Astonishment

sir Edward Gray's stateme"''' III ''o
of Commons Cause Astonishment.
WASHINGTON, April 1O.-A good deal
NJ establishment was created AZ the S'a'e
De,art,neot oyer the London Dispatch
relating what Sir Edward Gray far-
liamentary Secretary TO the Foreign VI
fee said in the House or CoHIhons ~,
corning the seal fisheries ana the NJ
caragua canal. AS 10 the CSh"' a.
Edward Gray is reported to have de-
o1srsd that in case the construction Of
the canal was proceeded with the nro-
ish Government would take steps 10 IN
sure that British trade was placed OIL
the same footing as that OF other ma
tIons. II the United States Government
constructs a canal and sees fit TO as
crininate in behalf of it's own shipping
n will unquesfionably DO so without re-
gard IN what the British Government
NAV think of the matter. If the British
Foreign Office means this as an inuma-
ton that the United States would not
have the right TO discriminate In iaVor
OF its own interests, then TINS deciAra-
ton will be regarded here as or some I'M
portance, and might throw addltlohai
light on British action In Nicaragua on
the subject of the pending dispute be-
British are threatening Nicaragua Win
gunboats.
But the principal interest here was In
the reported statement of Sir Edward
GRAY that the British Government had
not received any proposal from the
United States Government TO summon a
conference OF the powers concerned TO
deal with the seal fisheries OF the North
Pacific"
On February 18th last. in answer 70
Senate resolution. President Cleveland
transmitted to the Senate a letter from
Secretary Ores ham to Sir Julian Paunce-
fote. the British Ambassador. under date
of January sd, in which, after calling
attention to the enormous destruction OF
seals last year. Mr.. Gresham added:
II am directed by the President TO
propose for the consideration of your
Government and the Governments of
Russia and Japan the appointment of
such "a comission previously referred
10 In the same dispatch) and I am further
directed to suggest that during its
deliberations the respective Governments
agree upon modus vivendi as follows:
THAT the regulations now IN force
be extended along the line of the thirty
fifth degree OF north latitude from the
American TO the Asiatic shore, and be
fniOfttd uuffnK INC COfffffK season m
the whole CT the Pacific Ocean and
water north OF that line. Furthermore,
that sealing In Boring be absolutely
prohibited pending the report of such
commission. Inasnuch as the scaling
season will shortly commence and the
fleet will leave the western coast for the
sealing ground, I beg TO suggest the
necessity OF speedy action in regard to
this proposition
That letter was delivered to Sir Julian
Pauncefote on the I'D OF January. over
two months and a half ago. And yet
Sir Edward Gray is said TO have re-
I orted i'm Parliament that the British
Government had not received any such
proposal On the same day Secretary
Gresham sent another letter % Sir Julian
Pauncefote requesting certain information
Of the British Government I'm regard to
the catch OF seals by British vessels and
other Information provided for in the
regulations of the Paris Tribunal I'D
to this time not word of reply has
been received.
When Mr.. Gresham proposed 10 Sir
Julian Pauncefote TO pay the sum of
si25.0 900 as compensation for the seizure
Of British sealing vessels in Bering Sea
Sir Julian Pauncefote made his reply
within four hours from the time The
note WAS delVered 10 MIN. ana, or course
accepted the proposition on behalf of the
British Government. But the two let
fers, one asking for certain information
and the other submitting the PROPOSE
lion. have<pot even been Acknowledged
n to the present date. and now the
British Ministry deny having received
such proposition. This is such an ex-
traordinary condition OF affairs as TO
arouse good deal OF criticism here OF
British methods Of diplomacy.