The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-16
BRITISH TRICKERY EXPOSED
AND THE LIONS TAIL TIED IN
GOOD HARD KNOT FOR ONCE.
London Press Absolutely Rabid Over
the UnciVil Frankness in Uncov-
ering Britain's Deception.


looks to the preservation of seal life in
Alaskan waters The instructions were pre-
pared as a reply to a recent note from Lord
Salisbury handed to Secretary Sherman by
Sir Julian Pauncefote a few days before
the British ambassador sailed from New
York for London. They show at length Eng
lands policy of representation, of con-
tinued failure and refusal to support this
government in it's efforts to prevent the
determination of the seal herd, and the
anxiety of the United States, frequently
made known to the London Foreign Office
that steps should be taken to preserve the
seals as an obligation imposed by the Paris
tribunal. The Instructions are, in part, as
follows:
His ExcelIency John Hay ETC.. London
The British ambassador has handed me
dispatch to him from her MajestyS prin-
c1pal secretary of state for foreign af-
fairs, which dispatch constitutes the reply
of the British government to the proposals
or the President, as presented in note to
your embassy, for mOduS ViVendi for the
suspension of all killing of seals for the
present season, and for joint conference
of the powers concerned with a view to
the necessary measures being adopted for
the preservation of the fur seals in the
north Pacific. 1t will be seen that both
proposals are rejected.
~ ne need hardly say that the President is
substantial and inadequate reasons The
Presidents concern, in view of the depleted
condition of the seal herd, was occasioned,
not alone from an examination of DR..
Jordan'S report of 1886, and what he had
reasons to suppose were Prof. Thompsons
conclusions, but it was based upon a series
of observations and statistics covering a
much longer period than that treated by
those gentlemen, establishing state OF
facts beyond refutation, and which Is in
part set forth In my note to the British
ambassador of the same date as my cable
gram to you. It is, therefore, quite, sur;
priSing that her Majesty secretary should
base his rejection of the proposals of this
government so impressiVely presented,
upon the report of one scientist whose
facts and conclusions ere incorrectly APP
pretended, and delay the report of another
which is for the first time made public con-
currently with the receipt of his lordships
note. 1t would have been gratifying to me
and useful to my government in studying
this important subject under consideration
if Prof. Thompsons report could have been
made public with the promptness which
marked the appearance of that of DR.. Jor-
dan. In that case there would have been
ample time for both governments to have
examined the reports OF the eminent scien-
lists before the opening of another sealing
season.
SALISBURY'S DUPLICITY.
But it seems to have better suited the
purposes of her Majestys government to
withhold Prof. Thompsons report until an
opportunity was afforded to examine that
to pass the latter in review, criticise its
statements, and, as far as possible, mini
mize its conclusions. 1t is not pleasant to
have to state that the impartial character
which it has been the custom to attribute
to the reports of naturalists of high stand
ing has been greatly impaired by the i'm
patient subsection of this report to the po-
litical exigencies of the situation. 1t is
further to be regretted that the report was
afforded this government to examine it be-
fore the definite and final rejection of the
Presidents proposals. based mainly upon
its conclusions, was communicated to me.
This conduct recalls the incident which
preceded the arbitration at Paris, and
which came near rendering that arbitration
abortive when similar report of a British
commission was withheld until after the
case of each government was exchanged
and the report of the American commission
was made public Lord Salisbury asserts
that DR.. Jordan's report does not contain
any facts warranting the statement that
there is a depleted condition and pros
pective early extinction of the herd The
note of your embassy of the 10th ult. does
not attribute such statement to Dr. JOr-
dan. but it is difficult to 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 sustain
ing this contention. Continuing, he says:
Professor ThOmpSon'S report is plainly
written with a view to minimize, so far as
possible, the depleted condition of the herd
on Pribylof islands, and requires a crit
ical examination, not possible within the
limits of the present instruction, but it's
general purpose may be briefly stated. IT is
to be regretted that he should have con.
tracted his study far within the purview of
the instructions. He confined his inquiry
and refers to the subordinate subject Of the
number of seals resorting to the islands,
and particularly to the relative number in
1895 and 1896. The result of his observa-
tons and inquiries seemed to be that on
some rookerieS there an increase and
on others decrease, but, on the whole a
possible state of equilibrium for the last
two years, although he comedies dimi-
mutton as compared with 1892. If all the
Presidents claims are admitted. it does not
mitigate against the contention that since
pelagic sealing became general the decline
Since the receipt of Lord Salisbury's dis
patch explicit inquiry has been made of DR..
Jordan as to the relative. condition of the
herd in 1895 and 1896 and previous years,
and he has furnished the chapter on the
decline of the herd from the forthcoming
report of himself and associates.
Although Professor Thompson has been
very careful throughout the report TO say
nothing likely to embarrass his government
in the conclusions the voice of the true
scientific Investigator speaks in firm tones
While he regards the alarming statements
of the herds immense decrease as
overdrawn, he says there is still abundant
need for care and for prudent measures of
conservatism in the interest of ALL
UNDISPUTED AUTHORITY.
'It is not easy to understand how Lord
Salisbury can reconcile his refusal to en-
terrain the proposals Of the President with
the interests of his own countrymen, to say
nothing of the friendly relations which he
has been DESTROYS TO maintain with the
United States. Russia and Japan The ex-
perience had with the scientific commission
of 1892, well as the reports of 1896, just
under review, show that it is difficult
through them to reach a harmony of views
but we have at hand certain statistics of
undisputed authority pointing Enthusiastically
to conclusions which should be controlling"
Here Secretary Sherman quotes we'll
known statistics, showing the decrease in
the catch. He says;
Lord Salisbury attributes this large fall
ing off in Bering sea TO the stormy weather
prevailing but does not cite his authority
l am not aware of any public report TO that
effect. Captain Hooper, who commanded
the American cruising fleet in Boring sea in
1895 and 1885, reports: The weather in
Boring sea does not materially differ in the
last two years.
"The point when sealing ceased to be
ing the last year. Lord Salisbury informs
us that the result has brought many owners
of the sealing vessels to the verge of bank
ruptcy 1t thus appears that the condition
of things predicted by the government Of
the United States has already come TO pass
the commercial determination of the
seals"
view written by the secretary showing the
efforts made by Secretaries Gresham and