The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-15

NEN YORK. July ia speciai 10 the
IFlS4ns from Washington says:
A4ipoFfanf instructions have recently
been sent by Secretary sherman TO Am
eassaoor Hay for his guidance in urging
on TIE British government q compliance
Win tke provisions Of the Boring SEA
award, which looks "a the preservation Of
seal life in Alaskan waters The tnstr,,,.-
tions were prepared as reply 10 a recent
Hote Ir0m Lord Salisbury handed To Sec
fetary Sherman by Sir Julian paurcefote
q few days before the British au4l4a sSa. ..er
saAiea Tor London from New York They
snow at length England policy of pro-
ctasiinaiion, her continued failure and re-
Iusal TO support this government In it's ef-
forts 10 prevent the determination OF the
seal herd. and the anxiety OF the United
States, frequently made known To Yha
Lonaon foreign office, that steps De taken
10 preserve the seals as an onngatIon i'm
posed by the Paris tribunal The ins,ruc-
tions In part are as follows:
His r:gcei.eney john HAY. Esq. Etc.
I-olidon; The British ambassador ma : hand
ca he q copy of = dispatch To aim from
her MaleslYs principal secretary of STATE
ioi toisiAn aAalFS, which dispatch constl-
.@ess =. she iepiy or the British government
70 ne proposals of the president as pre-
Senteu IN a note Of your embassy for a
inaaHs Tivendi tor suspension OF an kill
in- ei seals for the present season. and
Se4iatns with a view 10 the necessary
measures beng adopted for the preserva-
tloa oil the f0r seal in the North Pacific
Jected.
Il heed hardly say that the president is
disappointed at this action, and especially
"hth IL - eased on such unsubstantial
ana inadequate reasons. The presidents
concern, Ill View OF the depleted condition
OF tic seal herd, was ccasioned not alone
from an examination of Or Jovaan's re-
port an 1895, which he had reason To sup
fese were the conclusions OF Prof Tnonp-
son, but II was based 3pou Il series of
observations and statistics covering q
much longer period than that treated by
.hesv gentlemen establishing a state II
facts beyond refutatlon. and which is in
part set forth in my note
IL is, therefore, quite surprising that
hen maiestys secretary should base Ills
rejection Of the proposals Of this govern
ment so impressively presented upon the
report OF one scientist. WHOSE. facts and
conclusions are Incorrectly apprehended
ana the suggestions OF another for the
first time made public concurrentlv with
the receipt OF his lordships note II
would have been gratifying TO me- and use
fai to my government in studying this inn
portant subject under consideration. II
frcf. thompson : report could have been
made public with the promptness which
marked that OF Dr. Jordan In that case
there would have been ample time for
both governments 10 have examined the
reports Of these two eminent scientists
before the beginning of@nother sealing
session. But IL seems 10 have better suit
ed tae purposes of her matessy's govern-
menf 10 withhold Prof. T'hompson's re-
port uiitil Gn opportunity was afforded 20
examine that Of Or. Jordan. and thus en-
able the former 10 pass the latter in re-
view. crttciSing It's statements. and rs far
as possible minimize its conclusions.
II Is not pleasant 10 have 10 state that
the impartial character which II has been
the custom 20 attribute to the reports of
naturalists of high standing has been
greatly impaired by the impatient sub
lection OF this report 10 the political eX-
igencies Of the situation. 1t is further 10
be regretted that the report was so long
delayed that no opportunity was afforded
definite and final rejection of the presi-
dents proposals. based mainly upon its
conclusions was communicated 70 me-
This conduct recalls the incident which
preceded the arbitration at Paris. and
which came near rendering that aTbitra-
tion ahortiVe. when a similar report of a
British commission was withheld until
after the case FOR each government Was
closed and the report of the commission
was made public.
Lord Salisbury asserts that DR. Jor-
dams report does not contain any facts
warrauting the statement that there Is a
depleted condition and prospective carly
determination OF the herd The note ~
your embassy Of the 10th ult does not
attribute such statement 10 Dr. Jor-
dan, but 4 Is difficult 10 understand how
any one can read his report without reach
ing the conclusion that such is the real
condition Of the herd
Here Secretary Sherman quotes freely
from the report for the purpose Of sus-
tanning this contention. He says:
s'Prof. ThoTnosogi's report Is written with