The record-union., 1897-07-16
.BEHRING SEA
SEAL QUESTION.
British Government Not Offended at
Shermdn'S Note.
The FriendIiest Feeling Exists With Regard
to the Negotiations.
A Conference to be Held at WASH
ington During the Autumn, at
Which the United States, Great
Britain, Russia and Japan Will
Be Represented.

LONDON, July 15.-While among the
| general public here the tone of Secre-
tary Sherman's letter to Embassador
/ Hay, regarding the Behring Sea seal
regulations, is greatly resented, the COR
| respondent of the Associated Press is
in a position to say that whatever crit
icism the British Government may
have to make on the phraseoIogy of the
communication, the latter has not i'm
any way affected unfavorably the me-
gotiations which Colonel Hay has been
conducting.
A conference will be held in WASH
ington during the autumn, at which
the United States, Great Britain, Rus
sia and Japan will be represented.
Since the presentation of Secretary
Sherman's note to Lord Salisbury EN-
| bassador Hay had had repeated confer
ences with his LOrdship, all of which
have been of the most friendly charac-
ter.
The most conciliatory spirit is dis
played in the matter by the British
Foreign Office, as is evident by the de-
cision to hold conference, which, al
though not formally announced, may
be regarded as settled.
1t may also be taken for granted that
Canada does not oppose this decision.
Mr.. Davis, the Canadian Minister of
Marine, in an interview with the cor
respondent of the Associated Press to-
day, said:
I'VE regard the latest proposals of
the United States as entirely reason
able. There is the friendliest feeling
with regard to the negotiations be-
tween the two Governments, and in
view of this the two peoples should not
be resentful. l think this is a reason
able view to take of the NATTER
Il have talked with Mr.. John Foster
as to the fact that the correspondence
might provoke some unpleasantness, -
continued Mr.. Davies, "and he agrees
with me that there is no reason for
resentment. However, l do not con-
slider it fair that only one side of the
correspondence should be published
The Canadians have never believed
that the seals were in any real danger
of extinction. Distinctly on the con-
trary, it is proved by statistics that
they steadily are increasing
The evening newspapers are in rage
over the sharp reply of Secretary Sher-
man to Lord Salisbury in the seal con-
troversy. The half-penny journals is
sue sensational placards bearing such
lines as Twisting the Lions Tail
Again." and America Shrieks at Eng
land"
The more serious papers deal with
the situation editorially.
The Globe" in an article headed
Yankee Insolence," says: sThe MEM
ories of Cleveland's impertinent mes
sage are all revived by the extraordi-
nd
Sherman has permitted to find it's way
into the papers. Waving the merits
of the question, which, fortunately. is
one for the naturalists, the astonish-
ing tone of Mr.. Sherman is in defiance
not only of the usages of diplomacy.
but of the maxims of ordinary civility.
Englishmen will be glad to see that
Lord Salisbury has, so far as a patrol
of the seal fisheries is concerned. treat
ed the message as though it had never
been sent. If he were to go a. stem
further, and to direct Sir Julian
Pauncefote to intimate to Mr. McKin-
ley that her majesty's Government de-
cllneS to receive dispatches couched in
such language, and could only reply
TO the next by handing Colonel Hay his
passports, the action would be indorsed
by the complete approval of the ma
tion''
The Pail Mall Gazette" says: "Mr.
Sherman's tone is not what it might
be, but the nasty feature of the affair
is the publication of the dispatch at
ALL"
The Westminster Gazette refers to
Mr.. Sherman's somewhat ugly dis
patch" and says: Seals like sill
yer, get into American party politics
1T is an ugly symptom that seals should
be used to provide the new American
Government with means for demon
stration against England"
The "St. James Gazette" says: The
publication is further demonstration
OF certain transatlantic methods of
diplomacy, which may one day involve
consequences much more serious