New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-20
NO CONFERENCE, SAYS CURzON
THE REQUEST OF THE UNITED STATES
DECLINED AS PREMATURE.
THE SEALS IN NO IMMEDIATE DANGER-No NE
CEssITY THEREFORE,. FOR REVisiN'
THE SEALING REGULATIONS

CESSfTY. THEREFORE,. FOR HENioiN"
THE SEALING REGULATIONS
London, July 19-In the House OF Commons
to-day the Hon. George Curzon, Under secre-
tary for Foreign Affairs. replying to Michae'
Davitt anti -Parnellite Member for South Mayo
said the Government convinced that the
seals in Behring Sea were In no Imminent danger
at present Correspondence which nad passeo
on the subject between the two Governments
would he presented In due time 10 'he fiou'e'
but probably not before the close OF the present
session. He added that the expert INVESTIGATIONS
were being continued. Two British gunooa's
were employed in those waters In 1879. three
were sent in 1896. and two this year. Ihe Ao-
noiralty had been asked whether third could
be spared for service there. The United states.
on the other hand. employed no gunboats. but
sent six revenue cutters in 1S9j six In 1916. ana
five this year.
Mr. Curzon said. also. that some ceia! hau
attended the completion OF the report Oh 'he
British, Commission, but the Government had
never contemplated holding 1t back un'h 'he
publication of the American report The Brit
ish Government had declined. he remarked the
request Of the United States for conference
to consider more adequate regulations 10 pre-
vent the determination of seals as such con
ference would be premature until the experts
now engaged in collecting statistics had COM
pleted their work.
The agreement made in 1894. Mr. Curzon con-
tinued, forbade the use of firearms by BRUSH
sealers I'm Behring Sea: but 1t was found III
practical experience that these prohptiohs
were not effective I'm protecting the seaiers lro''
unnecessary interference. and In 1870 the "o'-
ernment decided not to renew the agreement:
Th. regulations under the Paris Award. saiu
Mr. Curzon did not contain a provision for
bidding seaIers to be In the possession OF arms
but arrangements were made by which YES
sells clearing directly from British Coumpia
were furnished with certificates that they mao
no firearms board, while for vessels o on n, .ne
Asiatic side arrangements were made wnerep.
they deposited their arms at some rendezvous
before entering the sea-
The delay in the completion Of Professor
Thompson's report due partly to his pro-
fessional duties and partly to the necessity vi
awaiting the arrival Of certain notes ana IN
formation which he had asked Mr.. Macouh' the
Dominion Agent. to furnish him. a.
Mr. CurZon described the Pheasant as ilrst-
class gunboat. and the Wild swan as npar s,oop
In the course Of the debate on the Foreish
Office vote In the House to-day. Sir Cnarles
Dixie. Radical Member for the Forest OF Dean .,
said THE gravest foreign question . a, witb tt
the United States, ard II the matter is hol
iwelt upon It is because the Government Is
conscious that In these difficult matters II can
not count upon the support or the eh'"e
House"
In Mr. Curzon's statement on the Foreign
Office vote. after making light OF the British
trade interests IN Corca he sald: 'Our main
interest Is to see the independence OF Corea
maintained and that she be not territorlaiIy nor
administratvely Joined to Russia ana that ner
harbors he not made the basis OF operations
which might disturb the balance OF power IN
the East or give any Power maritime control or
the Eastern seas II any such attempt be
made, It will he Tor us to protect our own IN