The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-16
Let the GaIIed Jade Vince.

Let the Called Jade Vince.
A perusal of the instructions sent by
Secretary Sherman to Ambassador Hay
in reference to England's treatment of
the sealing problem suggests. that when
the London Globe becomes so excited
as to want Lord Salisbury to give our
Ambassador his passports, it must be
because the shoe fits.
The subject is one naturally difficult
of comprehension by landsmen and
made UP largely of scientific terms and
testimony; but the gist of Secretary
ShePman's letter is that Great Britain
throughout the negotiations over the
fur seals has acted toward us in an un-
friendly manner, and has almost with
out interruption manifested bad faith
Under the terms of the award of the
Paris tribunal each of the four powers
interested in seal fishng-namely, Rus
sia, France, England and the United
States-was to supply an equal part of
the ship patrol which was to police the
sealing waters; but while the United
States sent twelve ships to perform this
duty England sent but one. In the col
lection of information for the protec-
tion of this disappearing industry Sec
retary Sherman shows that the British
agents have uniformly sought to dis
tort the truth and belittle the peril.
Finally, when the United States made
overture for modus vivendi for the
suspension of all killing of seals during
the present season and for a joint con-
ference of the interested powers to devise
more effectual measures for the pres
ervation of the fur seal, England's re-
sponse was a curt refusal, seemingly
for no other purpose than to snub this
government.
Secretary Sherman well, though
somewhat pointedly says: THE obli-
cations of an international award,
which are equally imposed on both par
ties to it's terms, cannot properly be
assumed or laid aside by one of the
parties only at it's pleasure. Such an
award which in it's practical operation
is binding only on one party in its obli-
cations and burdens, and to be enjoyed
mainly by the other party in it's bene-
fits, is an award which, in the interest
of public morality and good conscience,
should not be maintained. Having in
view the expressed object of the arbi-
tration at Paris, and the declared pur-
pose of the arbitrators in prescribing
the regulations, when it became appar-
ent, as it did after the first years op-
Grafton of them and with increased en-
phasis each succeeding year, that the
regulations were inadequate for the
purpose, 1t was the plain duty of the
British government to acquesce in the
request of that of the United States for
a conference to determine what further
measures were necessary to secure the
end in view by the arbitration. A course
so persistently followed for the past
three years has practically accom-
plished the commercial determination
of the fur seals, and brought to naught
the patient labors and well-meant con-
clusions of the tribunal of arbitration.
Upon Great Britain must therefore rest,
in the public conscience of mankind,
the responsibility for the embarrass-
ment in the relations of the two ma
tions which must result from such con-
duct"
1t having been incontrovertibly DEM
onstrated that the practice of pelagic
sealing, if continued. twill not only
bring itself to an end but will work the
destruction of great interest of a
friendly nation" Secretary Sherman
has felt assured her majesty's govern
ment would eventually desist from an
act so suicidal and so unneighborly, -
and consequently renews the request
for conference of the interested pow
ers. But If the premier of England
adopting the spirit of the London Globe
wishes to refuse to participate in such
conference, and cares to take the con-
sequences of such a deliberate act OF
unfriendliness, the inference from Am
bassador Hays note of instructions is
that the government at Washington
will in sucn a contingency take ade-
quate steps to care for it's own. That
S the way and the only effective way to
deal with Great Britain. Cleveland
proved it in the Venezuelan episode
and we doubt not that history will soon
have occasion to repeat the chronicle
Of Lord Salisbury's surrender.