The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
+ fFlln7d5lngs Of the Bering Sea
Il. :>COmmission Have
f.: : Been Filed.
Prospective Damages Not AL
lowed by the Latest Ar
''.. bitPatOpS.
Including Principal and Interest the
Amount to Be Paid by Uncle
Sam Is S464, 900.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,

Oe@44 O44ASCs ANlSSS I1OuSS1
Washington, Dec. 23
The findings of the British-American
Commission, chosen to assess the dam
ages for seizures of British ships in
Rering Sea, have been received bv the
State Department and the British EN-
bassy. The strictest reticence is MAIN
tanned, however, on the general char
acter OF the findings, though it is ad-
mItted that the total of the award
against the United States is 1854 600
Whlch includes principal and interest.
A separate statement of the award
divided into principal and interest is
refused at this time.
In order to avoid misapprehension it
should be understood that the finding
against this Government is no surprise
mat being a certainty under the find
ing Of the Paris court of arbitration
Ihat the United States had no right TO
close Ber1ng Sea against foreign ships.
ne International commissions only
outy was to assess the amount of the
damages.
The only statement that could be Sc
cured here OF the judgment reached by
Q the commissioners is contained in the
following announcement given out at
the State Department this afternoon:
Inc award of the BeriHg Sea claims
commission has been filed in the De-
g epartment of State. The claims as pre-
Sented by the British Government TO
the commission on account of Cana
dian vessels seized in the Bering Sea
= aggregated, with interest, 81, 500, ,0O0
= These included. under the claim treaty
. several cases not embraced in the set
tlement proposed by Secretary Gresh-
am. The award now made amounts to
1924, 181 81, to which is to be added in
terest which will increase the total
ABOUT 90 per cent. The award is final
and diSpOSes of all cases before it. Pay
ment under the treaty must be made
within six months"
The department officials, it is as
sUmed, Will proceed at once to prepare
a bill Or an amendment to one of the
regular appropriation bills, for sub
mission TO Congress, covering the ne
cessary appropriation to pay the judg-
ments. Being bound by treaty not only
to pay any judgments rendered but
to pay them promptly, the Govern
ment is in honor bound to take the re-
naming steps toward a settlement in
short order.
There appears to be little doubt that
the United States carried its point on
the main question involved, viz, the
prospective damages, as they are
scaled down to an insignificant
amount or rejected entirely. While
The department officials will make no
definite announcement to this effect
1ntlmatiOnS are given that the small
ness Of the award precludes the possi-
blllty of any allowance having been
made on account of prospective dam
ages. The Alabama claims commits
sion established the precedent that re-
mote damages could not be included
in a claim, and the present award is
evidently on the same line.
General John w. Foster, who is now
in general charge of Bering Sea af-
fairs, said tonight as to the award
that he was not surprised at the re-
suit President Cleveland having of
fcially declared that S425. 900 was a Just
and equitable sum in settlement, and
thereafter having appointed as the
American Commissioner to adjudicate
the claims a close personal and polit-
ical friend, it could hardly be expected
that the latter would strenuously con-
tend for an award of a less amount
Mr.. Foster was absent from the coun-
try in Japan when Congress took ac-
tiOn on President Cleveland'S recon-
mendation, but he regarded the COM
mission as the proper method ofreach-
ing settlement and the only one
which would satisfy the country. Not
withstanding the seizures, which gave
rise to the award, were initiated un-
der a Democratic administration
President Mckinley, he thought
would doubtless recommend Congress
to provide for the payment, and he
hoped and felt sure that Congress
would make the necessary appropria-
tion to discharge the treaty obliga-
tiOns and as the Canadians receive
interest up to date on their deferred
claims. the result should be accepted
on both sides in good spirit.