New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-09
THE SEALING TREATY.


urday last has chiefly moral value. Under its
terms Russia, Japan and the United states
agree 70 refrain from pelagic sealing. But they
cannot prevent other nations from continuing
the Objectionable practice, nor do they chal-
lence the legal right of other nations to indulge
IN il. So they are by his treaty simply shut
ting themselves out of Behrng Sea ana aban-
doning it and its highly profitable industry to
others. it might be said to another, for there
is only one other that seriously follows pelagic
sealing and 1t. despite Mr.. kiplngs pet
uresoue protestation to the contrary, Is the
worst of all. This measure, then, VIII not pro-
tect the seals. but will merely give Canada
monopoly of Strengthening them. what Is
boDed is that by this voluntary withdrawal Of
the three Powers named CANADA VIII pe
shamed or in some way constrained to follow
their example. 1t must be confessed that pres
ent indications do not afford much ground for
that hope. Nevertheless the British ana Amerl-
can conference of this week may be fruitful of
good
Some Canadian and British observers are now
pointing to the result Of the late tripartlte con-
ference as vindication of Canada's refusal to
take part in It and of Great Britains conse-
ouent declination to do so. They profess 10
proof of previous understanding among them,
that Canada and Great Britain were to be
lured into the conference and then systcmat-
ically outvoed. That is a most unjust view to
take of the case. 1t mputes the worst of bad
faith 10 the three Powers of which there Is
not a scintila of proof that they are guilty, or
meant TO be guilty. 1t intimates that the
Powers were to be bound in advance TO agree
i,ritx. off, no. N he -
which every one knows was not the case. The
signing of the treaty was not compulsory upon
any one of the three that did sign it. Russia
might have withheld and let japan and the
United States sign II by themselves. That they
all did sign it proves only that they were all
convinced that il was the proper thing to do
If Canada had come in and had been thus con
vnced. she would also have signed ii. If she
had not been convinced. she would not have
signed II. And she would have been just as
free 10 do the one as the other
This. of course is to he borne in mind. that
the interests of The three treaty-making Powers
are radically different in one respect from
those of Canada. Those Powers are all owners
of islands on which there are seal rookerics
and on which they can conduct non-pelagic
sealing. Canada has no such island and so If
]
barred from sealing altogether This fact Is
an important one. and must he recognized. II we
are 10 do Justice to Canadas side of the case
II also makes it clear that in conference of
all the Powers Russia and Japan might proba
bly, have agreed with this country and have
disa greed with Canada 1t is to their interest
10 restrict pelagic sealing or TO abolish II. in
order 10 make their own land sealing more prof
i,If , HGSf
But Canada deems it 10 her interest to main
tain pelagic sealing because that IS the only
kind she can follow The force of this may
as well be conceded.
But its force is not. after all. paramount. not
even from the most selfish point Of view. Dis
miss from consideration all thought Of the
comfy of nations and Of the courteous regard
one nation should have for the interests of its
neighbors On the elementary ground Of self
ish profit It would pay Canada or, at any rate,
Great Britain TO cease from pelagic sealing, AT
least for a time, as the other three Powers are
going 10 do No doubt peagic sealing is prohta-
BILE and would be SO for few years TO come
But. then. il would come TO an end forever
through the extinction Of the seals. and with ii
would be forever ended the enormously profia
HE trade Of curing and finishing the furs and
putting them upon the market of which Lon
don has the practical MONOPOLY. AS between
the profits RI a few more years Of pelagic seal
ing and nothing more and the profits of per
petual maintenance Of the London fur market
there can be no comparison The latter meal
cuaby outweigh the former The example Of
Japan is also pertinent, and should be per
suasive Unrestricted sealing has nearly eX-
terminated the seals on the Japanese littoral.
so that her interest has come almost 10 re.
scmble that Of Canada. in being dependent upon
pelagic sealing. But she believes that by proper
restriction her rOokeres may he restored TO
their former pOpulous condition. and in hope
Of such permanent prosperity she forgoes the
present but transient profits of pcagc sealing.
II is TO be hoped that on fuller consideration
the Canadians will see that their true interest
lies in the same direction. A cessation Of pc
lagic sealing for time would not merely ena-
BILE the rOOkeres to become replenShed. 1t
would insure the permanent prosperity Of the
London market and would enable pcagc seal
ing itself to be resumed after time. under
proper regulations, on a more permanent and
profitable basis than ever before.