The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-15
THE H R SCI DISPUTE.
sEcRETARY sHERArAN,S SHARP RE-
PLY TO LORD S~lLISBURY.

tiuucd Fanure to Respect the Real Intent
and spirit OF the Paris Tribunal or the
Solemn obligations that Are Hmpoaea by II.
WASHINGTON, July lathe correspondence
bet weon this Government and that OF Great
Britain regarding the Behring Sea seal reRula.
HONS, called for by Mr.. Morgan's recent resolu.
ton, has been nado public. The principal |
papers in the correspondence arc tho letters of
Lord Salisbury to the British Ambassador,
dated April ii, and Mr.. Sherman's letter to
Ambassador Hay on May 10.
Lord Salisbury reitcratcs tho contention that
there is nothing to show that soal life is in dan.
ger OF destruction in the near future, and backs
the contention with Prof. Darcy Thompson's
report Tho Primo Minister declarco that fur
ther Investigation by experts Is needed before
q change Of the regulations Is considered.
Secretary Sherman on May 10 sent to Ambas-
sador Hay q reply to this letter. Mr.. Sher-
man in opening says:
'The British Ambassador called upon me on
the Sd inst, and handed me q copy Of a dos
patch to him from her Majesty's principal &c.,
Rotary Of state for Foreign affairs, bearing the
date Of 2lst ult. This despatch constitutes
the reply of the British Government to the pro-
posals of the President, as presented in the note
OF your embassy Of the 10th ult., for a modus
vivcndi for the susponyion of ali killing Of seals
for the present season, and for n joint confer
ence Of the powers concerned with o view to tho
necessary measures being adopted for the pres
ervation Of the fur seal in the North Pacific.
1t will DO seen that both proposals are rejected.
u need hardly say that the President Is
greatly disappointed at this action, especially
whom II Is based upon such unsubstantial and
inadequate reasons. The Presidents concern.
in view OF the depleted condition Of tho seal
herd, was occasioned not alone from an exami-
nation of DR.. Jordan's report Of 1896 and what
he had reason to suppose were the conclusions
Of Prof. Thompson, but It was based upon q
series Of observations and statistics covering q
much longer period than that treated by those
gentlemen, establishing q state Of facts beyond
refutation, and which Is in Fart set forth in my
note to tho British Ambassador of the Same
date as my. cablegram to you. 1t Is therefore
quite surprising that her Majesty's Secretary
should base his rejection of the proposals Of
this: Government, SO improssively presented,
upon the report Of one scientist, whose facts and
conclusions are incorrectly apprehended, and
the delayed report Of another, which Is for the
first time made public concurrcntly with the
receipt OF his Lordship's note.
TT would have been. gratifying to me and
useful to my Government, in studying the i'm
portant subject under consideration, II Prof.
Thompson's report could have been made pub
lilo with the promptness which marked the APP
pearance of that of DR.. Jordan. In that case
there would have been ample time for both
Governments to have examined the reports OF
these two eminent scientists before the opening
of another scaling season. But 1t seems to
have better suited the purposes Of her Majesty's
Government to withhold Prof. Thompson's re-
port until an opportunity was afforded to ex-
anime that of DR.. Jordan, and thus enable the
former to pass the latter in review. ~criticise its
m and as far as possible minimize its
conclusions. 1t Is not pleasant to have 10 state
that the impartial character which it has been
the custom to attribute to the reports OF. natural;
lists of high standing has been greatly impaired
ppooliticai exieencies Of the situation.
Mr.. Sherman then goes Int a long arsument
quoting Prof. Jordan, the t American expert; IN
being exterminated, and that prompt action
must DO taken to save them, He briefly re,
ernment has followed its Recommendations.
The Indifference with which the British Coy
ernment treated the repeated appeals OF this
S II measu lDs p to enforce > the regulations sol:
tmnly laid down by an international Board OF
A tntsEtained for il that assu ase t messasf q On res sept.
been rendered. secretary Gresham instructed
eminent of the desire Of the Government of the
United States to take up without delay. the
30 as to make them effective before the next
sealing season. This notice was given to tho
British Foreign ONCE Sept. 1S. more than three
No progress having esen made, Nov; II Ssere-
dent was anxious that an agreement on this
subject should be speedily reached. On the
4th Of December Secretary Gresham consented.
the negotiations might be transferred 70 Wash.
ipgton, but he gave notice to- Lord RosebeEy
next season will commence admonishes both
Governments Go.expedite the negotiations.
addressed an urgent note to the British Am.
bassador. complaining that nothing had yet
been accomplished, and the time lost had
Beason.without any definite steps having been
taken for the execution OF the Paris award a
qufnes, the British Ambassador informed him
d IL was S to say w1'4 tSis i lonS delay Is A diaa es se e.
understand, and it 10 the Presidents desire
that Eon rePrea:ent the lem matter IN i% NarsS Is Se To-
rotary Gresham sent another urgent cablegram
70 MI: BeyaEd.. complaining OF stu ! nd further r ,oGn de- g
barrassing for both Governments, The neso
AFTER they We're invited by the United States
the British act april %, 1894 to enforce the
regulations was not s. p@sSeSa ad pn onen ,Spf a mGh ths
fnal order in council June q, ls9ll on the
subject was not issued until six months after
Of Tho award OF the tribunal; nit, c.
THE manner In which the British Govern
ment has discharged its police duties undcl
the award Is In marked contrast with its ap
peal for q strict observance OF the hye years
period of the regulations. An equal obligation
rests upon each Government to patrol the water,
embraced in the award area, In order 70 sec thu
the regulations are not violated by the scainf
vessel. In 1894 the Government OF the OniteS
States furnished twelve vessels for the patrol
ling fleet at great expense, and only one vesge
was furnished by the British Government; II
1895 five United States vessels patrolled thu
award area and only two British vessels, on
for a short time only In Bohring Sea and TIT
other took no part whatever in the patrol a.
It's presence was almost constantly required y
Unalaska harbor to take over the British seal
ing vessels seized in Behring Sea: Owing to tn q
United States as to the inadcqnacy urged tina
American vessels frequenting Bering Sea wer'
required to have their arms sealed and on re
turning to their home ports their skins yer,
carefully inspected. while her Ma1esty,s Coy
arms and declines the inspection Of skins.
measures which this Government regards az 40
kolutely essential for preventing the unlawfu
destruction Of the. SEALS Nevertheless. an
other season has boon entered upon Withou
any settlement Of this vexed question