The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-04-16
q T cH1cANERY.


The Rosebury ministry promises to
make a record for chicanery quite as
notable as that OF some of its prede-
cessors, so far as the relations with
this country are concerned. The dispo-
sition Ut is m~anifesting with regard TO
the seal fisheries is neither honest nor
friendly. 1t is a matter Of general
knowledge that u government has
been most earnestly endeavorlng to eff
feet some arrangement vita the Dttlsh
government for the better protection of
the seal herds, whi III, under existing
conditions, are threatened with exter-
mlnation, but the latter has shown n
desire or Willingness to do anything
suggested by this governm ent. The
United States proposed a commission,
to be composed OF representatives o
Great Bgltain, Russia. JAPAN AID the
United States, to visit the Noruh ia J.
hc and report what measures mig
be adopted to protect the seas, az
sealing in Berlng Sea to be suspended
pending the report OF the commission
This was made to the Bn lsh ambas-
sador at Washington by Secretary
Gresham, but the parliamentary secre
harry Of the British foreign office stated
In the house Of m on Tuesday
that the government had not received
any proposition of the Kind from the
United States. Either the ambassador
has not done his duty by failing to
communicate the proposition to his
government, or the secretary of the
British foreign office has, in diplomatic
language. "resorted to a technical eva
sion Of the polnt"-to put 1t In plain
language, prevarla ated-for the corres-
pondence having been published there
can be no question that THE proposlt-
tlon was made.
OF course our government has re-
ceived no response from Great Britain,
and. In view Of what was said In the
house OF commons 1t win be necessary
for the secretary OF state to renew the
proposition II 1t Is deemed worth while
to do It now, when the sealing season
Is almost at hand. It Is hardly possible
that anything can be done for extend
Ing the scope OF the PRESENT regulations
this year, and therefore 1t is appre-
hended that there will be a repetition
OF last years great slaughter Of seals,
with the probability that the number
killed this year win be larger than
last. 1t is not easy to understand the
attitude Of the British government In
this matter, since there are extensive
British interests concerned In the pre-
servation Of the seal fisheries, bwt there
would seem to be no - for expect
ing anything from that government
either now or IN the future for the bet,
ter protection OF the seals against Pc
lasac hunters
such being the case the question as
10 what course our government shall
pursue becomes urgent. Probably It
ought 10 new the proposition for a
commission. and Il this Is rejected or
not accepted within a reasonable time
1t may be found expedient TO consider
the suggestion made In the hast con-
gress that the government XIII all the
seals within the waters Of ats juris-
dlction and dispose OF the skins at
auction. This would be applying an
heroic remedy for the pesplexing diff
cnlsy, but Il would be effective, and
il is believed the government would
get better results than to allow the
atuntion 20 remain as at present.
since according 70 expert opinion, the
determination OF the seals withsn two
a. tiree years is inevitable unless bet