New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-08
THE BEHRING SEA CLAIMS.
EFFORTS TO MISREPRESENT THEIR
STATUS
THEIR
NO VIOLATION OF GOOD FAITH OR TREATY oBLI
CATIONS IN THE REJECTION BY CON
GREss OF GREsHAMs BARGAIN.

WASHINGTON March THE "cuckoos'' and Ad-
ministration newspapers appear TO hope that by
constant repetition of the statement they can make
the country believe that the refusal of the Liza
Congress to vote "a lump sum- OF $3.50" TOT the
payment Of certain alleged awards "of the Tribunal
OF Arbitration on account of losses 10 which GER
tain alleged subjects Of Great Britain were SUD-
jected by the United States which seized a number
of vessels engaged in seal poaching in Behring
Sea- was somehow a violation OF treaty obligations
and National good faith. more false and ground
less assertion and representation never made
in defence and advocacy of any act OF the present
Administration. and that is saying n good deal.
And yet the Secretary of State is quoted by Adj
minisration newspapers saying since the ex-
piratlon OF the Lila Congress that the refusal
OF Congress make any disposition OF the matter
places the Government in a very embarrassing
position. II will enable Great Britain to charge
that the United States has violated treaty. II Is
an awkward position and in which the United
States ought not to he placed" The Secretary
seems to have idea that what he calls the
Government of :he United States" does not In
clude the legislative department thereof But 1t
is not worth while to do more than refer to that
President Cleveland holds that view. and Of course
his executive clerks who nominally the heads
OF the several executive departments. are bound 10
share it, passing strange to find even
Mr. Clevcand's Secretary OF State. who occupies
the place which has been filled by great American
statesmen, publicly declaring in regard 10 con
troversy which is pending between his country
and foreign country. that the refusal Of Congress
to satisfy an inprovident agreement between him
self and his friend. Sir Julian Paunccfoc. whom
ne addressed Dear Sir Julian" in an official
communication dated August l6. ls9' will enable
Great Britain to charge that the United states
has violated treaty.
As a matter Of fact. the Secretary OF state knows
that Great Britain mas ground whatever for such
an accusation II he usel the language imputed t.
HIM its use can only be cxpl1ined-it never can be
excused or JUSTIFIED by the theory tina, in his deep
chagrin on account ~ the defeat Of the agreement
between himself and his friend dear Sir Julian
hc had temporarily forgotten tho giSt OF his own
statement 10 the House of Representatives under
date Of December o. 1896; in response 90 resolution
OF inquiry adopted by that body. That statement
I'D not contain single word suggestion TO the
effect that the United States bound by treaty
or by the award Of the Tribunal Of Arbitration 70
pay the Behring Sea claims OF alleged British Sub
jcc;s. as submitted by the british government
without Investigation ~ the facts. what S'cr'-
tary Gresham did say in concluding That statement
10 Congress was: in view OF all the facts AMI what
may he reasonably expected a. no result Of conn
mission. tho undersigned submits tha, prompt AMI
final settlement ~ the voXat.ous controversy hy
an appropriation u the lump sum agreed nion Is
advisable"
The carrying out Of tho Gresham Paunc'''o
agreement 10y n" appropriation Of a Jump sum
90 he REGARDED a. 'alvi'lhic"-ony that and no'n-
ing moro There Was not a suggestion or an init
nation even that treaty obligations or ~" Nou'nh.
faith or honor ~ tho United States r"guir. mat
tho appr0ptiai'on should ho made. y matter -
fact, the original suggestion = tho Administration
70 Great Britain was that N" Investigation ani ai-
Indication Of tho claims womb require 'he services
- a j,lnt or mixed commission. Great Britain
promptly agreed 70 this suggestion. AMI. in .-'-
ter dated June : 1885, 10 Secretary Gresham. 'h"
British Ambassador made certain suggestions 20
regard to tho composition - tho proposed c'm"i.
sion the nature = 10 inv.stigrious AMI the sc'rc
OF n. iuris liction and decisions The letter c'r.
Guided q. fo..ows. you informed me some TINE
ago that in he yiow - your G'v"ruw .n'. D.a-
yentlon would be- necessary Tor ihe aljus'mer'
OF tho claims AMI tho Etri = Kimberley. - whom
"a not faii =, communicate that 0pin''o %. h'' 'n-
s,rucicd me- ?, proceed a. once with tho res''aiI'n
o, such convention on iAe oasis 81 ne arrange
mont above proposed should 10 b" Myorahiy "ntor-
i,lueI bv YOUR Government" Tho Amhas.hilf'-
letter VII hc scanned b. vain - DISCOVER any 'if-
ges.ion or intlmatoH nat the jn''cl states WIS
bound by treaty. by any action or award - ~"
Tribunal q Arbitration or hy National honor -
nav the Gains out - hanI without any iny"stra-
ton - ascertain whether all - ih"m were jI7' or
whether any 81 them were cNaggcfaf'i " tainted
With fraud
Time passed Through 'he amenities ~ social IN
tcrc5Hrsc with "Dear Slr Julian AMI other am~i-
Influence.
OF state In regard the Justice - 10" claims ana
IN. rropri.ty or necessity OF slhic-'nE them 20 a
thorough Investigation Dos q commission seem 10
have un lcrgDnc a radical change AMI on August a.
lx4 a I"'t~r 20 the Hriush Amhas'rI' i"-
fcrrlug 20 our Vcrha. communication - recent
date Secretary Gresham offered hy the direction
Of the Prcsldon. - pay lump sum 81 $50" in
mi s,tiafactton' Of SAID claims Refore O'Clock
= m on the same lag The offer was accepted by
Sir Julian PauLccfotc IN behalf Of the ALLEGED hfil-
ish subjects who the c.a'inlnt' Bui thai was
not u harI-and-ftst agreement. - IL Wa i'l'"Y
represented 10 be- by %" "cuckoos IN IN" House VI
Representatives ON the contrary. 1t was bufl"n"l
by the following conditions duy form Ia Score
tary Gresham's letter and accepted Win thanks Nv
Dear Sir Julian. This Proposition II u sh'h
prov" 10 be acceptable 10 Ii"r M"J"siYs Govern
ment. is TO De understood "a having been ma SUD
lcct to the action OF Congress on IN" question ~
approprlating the money. The President can only
undertake t. submit the matter TO Congress at the
beginning OF It's session December next, Win a
recommendation that the money be appioIIl"'"i
ami made Immediately available for IN" purpose
above expressed and n a. time before the dp-
preparation IS made your Government SHAH d"Nr" "
Is understood that the negotiation. on which We
have for some time been engaged Tor the r-'hPS"
ment OF mixed commissi' N VII be- renewed mn.
Here again there a total ab-"nc" oi any SUB
geston or intimaton that the tinted states Wa
bound by treaty obligation by the action 81 'hr
Paris Tribunal or by any other CONSIDERATION ~ I'S
the claims until after careful ana thorough hl'tH-
cation ana intelligent ana IAN dIJbl'hl'"i' -
was there suggestion or inmation that IN cas-"
Congress should refuse or fdll To max" the aPP,o
priation. action by 1t would br necessary hs a PR
minary the appointment OF commission. ~
not until February 10 1885. about TWO weeks
before the expiration Of Congress. jhet an "sti.
mate for the appropriation Of $1,000 carry out
the agreement received by the Appropriations
Committee Of the House of Representatives. Inc
last general Appropriation bill had then been Eohn
ple.ed by the committee. which was overWhelWri
with work and there was no time or opportunity 10
Investigate the merits OF this new item, an estimate
for which ought to have been submitted at least SIX
weeks before. II II deemed important To- nave
IL included OF the Appropriation bills Never
theless the committee consented to allow the item
To be offered In the House "a an amendment to the
General Deficiency bill IL was 80 offered. ana AFTER
two hours Of debate, 1t was defeated In Demo
cratic House OF Representatives by vote oi ll3
yeas to li2 nays. OF which nifty east by Demo
Gratis who had been rnislcd by the msrepre-
sensations in which the advocates OF the amendment
had indugc1
An nnnri ,Has afierward made 70 engrnft the same