New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-24
THE BEHRING SEA AWARD.

Another triumph Of the principle Of interna-
tional arbitration Is about to be recorded IN the
settlement Of the controversy over the seizure OF
British sealers In Behring Sea. Those seizures
were made 1t will be remembered, by this Gov
eminent, acting on the theory, which seemed
amply sustained by the practice OF other ma
tons that Behring Sea was CLOSED sea-" over
which the United States had exclusive jurisd!c
ton. Great Britain denied that condition OF af
fairs and the whole subject was finally re-
ferred to an international tribunal Of arbitration
sitting in Paris. That tribunal decided that
Behrlng Sea was not closed, and that the seiz-
ures were therefore unjustihable. 1t explicitly
declined, however, to express any opinion as 10
the damage that had been done to Great Britain
by the seizures or to make any award thereon.
but IN unmlstakable terms RENTED that subject
10 the two Powers concerned, for them to settle
By proper Investigation and negotiation between
themselves 1t fell to the lot of the second
Cleveland Administration to execute, or to at
tempt to execute, this decree Of the Paris tri-
bunal Unfortunately. 1t went about It In the
worst possible way. Instead Of having the
claims judicially investigated by a competent
commission, 1t agreed to pay a lump sum with
out any such investigation, and without any
settlement. Had the hole-and-corner bargain of
1894 been carried out there would have been
room for Canada to say at any time that she had
not been adequately compensated but had ac-
cepted an unjustly small sum for the sake OF
peace, or because this country was unable to
pay more Or this country might have said
that II had been wheedled or blackmailed into
having an extortlonate sum, far greater than
Canada was entitled to receive Such complaints
would perhaps have been ill-founded, but moth
ing Is more evident than that there would have
been room and some provocation for the making
of them They could be precluded only by max
ing q settlement that on the face Of 1t was dis
eliminating and equitable.
Happily for the cause Of arbitration and OF
international comfy. the Cleveland plan wa:
,hwarted by the action OF Congress In refusing
TO appropriate the money needed for carrying i
into execution. Mr.. Cleveland then reluctantly
acceded to the principle OF judicial arbitration
and appointed commissioner to meet a CORE
spending British commissioner and with hin
hold judicial inquest on the claims for the de
termination Of their validity. Those commission
ers have performed their task with admirable
thoroughness and with as much expedition a
was reasonably to be expected They hav
carefully investigated every claim. taking writ
ten and oral testimony as In a court Of justice
II was arranged that In case the two did no
agree concerning any claim 1t should be re
ferred to an impartial umpire for determination
No such case appears TO have arisen. The tw
commissioners came to an agreement on evei.
uoint of the whole controversy, and they hav
finally made an award which. however pleasn
or displeasing 1t may be to any one, cannot b
disputed on grounds Of Justice. but must be &C
cepted for all time as equitable and final An.
Canadian complaining that 1t was too small, o
any American complaining that it was to
great, would simply be stultifying his own Gov
eminent and challenging the correctness Of