New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-12
PATIENCE SEVERELY STRAINED.
NEGOTIATIONS AS TO SEALING-THE Az
POINTMENT OF MR.. FOSTER
AND MR. UAMI.IN.

Washington April 1.-THE recent appointment; OF
ex-Sccretary Foster and ex-Assistant secretary
Hamn by the President TO assist In the negotNa-
ions now in progress with Great Britain respect
Ing the Behrlng Sea fisheries Is indicative mat TINS
long-standlng diplomatic issue has at last assumed
grave importance and that earnest effort is 10
be made 10 end the present unsatisfactory state Vi
affairs. at least TO place the subject on such
footing before the beginning Of the approaching
open Will prevent II from passing INTO d
more serious phase
The diplomatic correspondence OF the last year
makes It evident that n severe strain was placed
upon the patience Of the officials OF both the 'hi'eu
States and Great Britain. and the warning given
quietly yet firmly by the British Premier that iur-
ther proceedings by the American revenue cutters
In the line of last years programme could NOT ne
tolerated and the intimaton from Secretary oiney
that there would be no change unless additioha'
restrictions imposed on the BRUSH seai''s
vessels. hold out latent possibilities OF a serious
entanglement OF the two friendly Powers. ufiess
some arrangement be made before the emu oi
Nav For the reason that ex-Secretary Foster was
! familiar with the earlier stages Of the negotiations
leading up 10 the Paris arbitration while 10 eA-
Assistant Secretary Hamlin is due In large meas
ure the credit for the conduct OF the negotiations
of the last Administration on this suDJect t1ey my
have been chosen to assist now in composing thiS
threatened difficulty. - r,noinaIv
through the refusal of the British authorizes 10
renew last year the regulations n Mace their
firearms under seal to give .ne,t to the Paris
regulation prohibiting the use OF sncn od Gowp on
evidence that large proportion OF the ssa,s ,n
voivns wasteful mortality The British having ing
refused to seal up their arms ne Gn,,su most
Government adopted the plan OF mak'ns "a "a ILL., niu
thorough search of every sealing vessel IN heh''"s
Sea -, ,,
There was justification for a search IN the regu-
atons but again the British Governinent pS plo
tested. claiming that British vessels were lleitoS
subjected 10 unnecessary and most VeNdtious nv
tenton; that their CATCHES were % on1u ros,ilt
thrown into confusion. and that the only ,ri
can boarding officer thought he saw shot wound
and Of logbook few days in arrears III gnLes Ii,P
Yet for This twenty-six ou' oi slyrched eighty
two times one vessel being boarded six times In
twenty-four days. ,.tas H.
Secretary Olney. on the other hand. justihed tne
course of the revenue officers by pointing ou tnat
all of the three seized vessels were convicted IN
British courts. He also gave some starting nsmes
regulations which he invited the British Govern
ment tc accept From actual count he showed a ,lat
in 1895 no less than 500 dead sea- pup ppriShad
from starvation because their mothers had Deeii
killed al by sealing vessels. Also II was stated
that in the same season the vessels had taken
i4l69 skins az against 81. .5sj in the previous year.
and Mr. Oney asserted that II the killirg was 10
30 on at this rate the total destruction OF the sea-
herd would he accomplished in the course OF ABOUT
seasons.
| TO make the showing worse from our point OF
view, it stated that the lawful eaten on tne
seal islands had largely fallen off. Efforts were
| made 10 devise some way Of insuring the seals
against the OF firearms by poachers. but they
came 10 nothing. and the upshot was that Doth
sides stoou firm. the British warning US against
further ndiscrminate search OF Britlsh vessels
and secretary Olney standing on our right 10 MAKE
both Governments made exhaustive report
tending sustain Secretary Olney's assertion re
under present conditions and IL must be upon this
| basis that the negotiations will now proceed.