The times., 1897-07-15
FUR SEAL CONTROVERSY
Continued from First Page.

nIide pubilc wltn the pFonlplnesS whfen
marked the appearance OF that of Dr.
jordan. In that case there would have
bee; ;.Inple time tor both governments
TO have Examined the reports OF THESE
two eminent scientists before the opening
OF another sealing season. But 1T seems
to have better suited the purpose or ner
InaleSty's government to withhold Prof.
| Thun.psonS report until an opportunity
was afforded To examine that of Dr. DOR
| dail, and thus enable the former u pass
| the latter in REVIEW, or ticlse / is state
! ments, and, as far rs possible, minimize
| its conclusions. IL is not pleasant To liaVe
| to state that the impartial character W htch
! II has been the custom TO attribute 10
| the reports of naturalists OF hIgn stand
ing has beer greatly impaired by the
apparent Subjection OF this report To the
political exigencies of the situation"
Mr. sherman then dives INTO a long argu-
1lent, quoting Prof. Jordan, the American
! expert in upholding his contention that
| the seals are fast being eXterminated, and
| that prompt action must be taken TO save
| them. He briefly reviews the findings Of
| the PARIS tribunal and criticises the man
ner in Which the British government has
| followed its recommendations
| In closing MT. Sherman says
THE obligations OF an international
| award, which are equally imposed on both
| parties to its terms, cannot properly be
assumed or laid aside by one OF the parties
! only at its pleasure. Such an award
which, in Its practical operation, $ bind
! ing only on one party i'll its obligations
and tartlens, and to be enjoyed mainly
| by the other party in its benefits, is an
award which, in the interest of public
| morality ard good conscience, should not
| be maintained. Having in view the ex-
! pressed object OF the arbitration at Paris
and the declared purpose OF the arbitra-
! tors in prescribing the regulations, when
! il became apparent, as it did after the
! first years operation OF them, and with
| increased emphasis each succeeding year,
that tie regulations were inadequate for
| the purpose, it was the plain duty of The
| British government to acquiesce in The
| request Of that OF the United States for
a conference to determine what further
| measures were necessary to secure the end
had in view by arbitration.
"A course SO pcrsiSjenuy followed for the
| past three years has practically accom-
! pIisheI the commercial determination Of
the fur seals and brought to naught the
patient labors ana wen-meaHt conclusions
OF tie tribunal of arbitration Upon Great
! Britain must therefore rest, in the public
| conscience OF mankind, the responsibility
! for the embarrassment in the relations Of
| the two nations which must result from
| such conduct one of the evil results is
| 8Ieady indicated in the growing conyic-
| tioR of our people that the refusal Of the
! British government to carry out the recon-
mendations OF that tribunal viii neeucsay
sacrifice an important interest Of the United
] Stotes. This is shown by the proposition
seriously made in Congress 10 abandon nego-
| tiat'Ons and destroy the seals on the islands
as the speedy end TO a dangerous ca1tro-
versy, although such a measure has not
becn entertained by this department We
have fei' assured that as il has been demon
| srated that the practice OF pelagic sealing.
| il continued. VIII not only bring itself TO an
end, but Will work the destruction OF Il
great interest Of friendly nation, her
majes, VS. government would desist from an
| act 50 sdicidal and so unneighboTIy. and
which GER ainly could not command the APP
proval OF its own people
TIE President therefore cherishes the
hope that, even at this late day, the Brit
isl government may yet WELD to his con-
tinacd desire, so often EXPRESSED, Tor a
| conference OF the interested powers. and
! in delivering TO Lord Salisbury copy Cf
this instruction. YOU VIII state to him that
| the President viii hail with great salts
faction any indication on the part of her
| majcsty's government Of a disposition TO
agree upon such a conference"
Ina dispatch of April 27 Mr. Hay writes
| that in conference with Rrifish officers
the subject OF compensation to interests
| involved in pelagic sealing was mentioned,
to which he responded that the President
| proposed that any modus vivendi adopted
| should contain an equitable provision for
| legitimate interests involved.
on May l 8 Sir Julian informed Mt. Sher-
i.an that the. arrangement of S94 might
| he renewed ''for the sealing up by duly
| authorized officer, on the application OF
| the master, Of the arms on board a vessel
proceeding to the fishery in the Bering
| Sea, or returning to port during the close
| season, but that the Canadian government
found itself unable to concur in the sug~
| geston that the skins landed from the
| British sealing fleet be examined by
| American experts
Acknowledging the receipt of this, Nj
| Sherman wrote to Sir Julian that this
Government would extend to British yes
sells the regulations prescribed by act
| of CongrasS for United States vessels during
| the fishery season of S97, but Sir Julian
replied that ne was rot authorized to
agree to their appii cation to Britis h
| vessels
The correspondence closes with a note
| of July 2, from Mr.. Sherman to Mr.
REGINALD Tower, charge d'affaires, British
| embassy, Washington :, conveying an ex-
| preston of the presidents regret 'nu the
| chvi0us inHdequaCy OF the proposed patrol
| fieet''-two vessels only having been de-
tailed by the British government for patrol
duty in Rerng Sea ''Five vessels have
| been designated by the President for this
purpose, the note continues, and, in view
| OF the area to be patrolled, and of ,he
! number OF sealing vessels which have al
| ready engaged in and are preparing to
fit out for sealing operations this season
! the president hopes that her majesty's
| government viii decide for the prtsen
season to add to the fleet OF three vessels
| employed last season, rather than to reduce
its numbers.
The President believes it to be i'm.
possible properly to execute the laws en-
acted to enforce the Paris award unless a
larger fleet be designated by her ma jesty's
government.
An early reply to this note will be ap-
| preciated, as the President fears that tho
designation Of two vessels only By her
| majesty's government would be accepted
! by the scalers as evidence of an abandon.
ment OF the patrol which would render it