New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-18
WAITING FOR COLONEL HAY.
LONDON PREPARING TO MAKE LION
OF THE AMBASSADOR.
4 NEW ERA IN AMERICAN DIPIoMACY-ENG
IrsH INTERESTS MENACED BY CANADIAN
SEAL poAcHERs-'THE sPEAKERs'
REASONABLE ATTITUDE ON THE
SEALING QUESTION

SEALING QUESTION.
CBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.1
London, April 1.-THE new American AM
Nassador will be officially welcomed when he
arrives at Southampton, the municipal authori-
ties not being willing TO allow him to land and
go to London without receiving from them some
expression Of their good will and respect for his
high Office. 1t will not be an elaborate junction.
and the Ambassador will take the first train for
London, where he will go to his new residence In
Carlton House Terrace Mr.. Henry White, Sec
rotary to the Embassy, will obtain possession or
the house for him on Tuesday and will thus en-
able him to spend the first night in England I'M
der his own roof. His arrival will be the signal
for outbreak of genuine hospitality in the
West End, and importunato demands for his
appearance as an after-dinner speaker. If there
is anything that London loves it is new lion
Mr.. Bayard. having been a voluminous speech
maker. has accustomed the English public to the
idea that the oratory of an American Ambassa-
dor is always on tap, with the spigot loose. The
new Ambassador will be embarrassed at the out
set by the necessity for dispelling this illusion
and restoring to the office its essential dpo-
matte character.
Mr. Bayard is no longer Ambassador for Mr.
White under direction from the State Depart
ment. virtually superseded him and took entire
charge Of the American Embassy. but Mr. Bay
ard has been unable to resist the temptation to
arrange a short series Of last appearances in
England after the arrival of his successor. Upon
his return from Italy he will attend the Ameri-
can banquet at which the loving cup will be pre-
scented. He Will also lay the foundation stone Of
the now Home for Men at the epileptio colony at
Chafont St Peter Bucks. He will also receive
the Mayfower log with more or less Formally
and take 1t to America, since he considers that
he has the first lien upon 1t. The good taste Of
these proceedings. when he Is no longer Ambas-
sador, is questionable, but Mr.. Bayard is law
unto himself. and will probably make few
speeches in his favorite role Of the great peace
maker bent upon preventing outbreak Of
fratric!dal in the Anglo-Saxon family.
While the former Ambassador continues in a
state Of eruption, his successor will probably
settle down quietly to business in his office
With Mr.. Whites appearance at the Embassy. n
new period Of diplomatic activity has already
opened in that Office. During the last two years
no real work has been done there. and the func-
lions OF the officials have been chiefly confined
to watching kleptomania and dynamite cases in
the courts All important negotiations between
the two Governments hav3 been conducted in
Washington. and the Ambassador has been
without tho ordinary employment Of diplo-
matst of the first rank. The new Ambassador
will be actively occupied with the legitimate
duties of his office. and his functions will corre-
epond TO those OF other Ambassadors in the
British capital. This is foreshadowed by the
presentation at the Foreign Office Of papers re-
ating to the regulation of seal fishing in Behring
Sea, through Mr. White. This indicates that the
new Ambassador will take up this question
when he arrives. and have an active part in all
diplomatic negotiations which may arise be-
tween the two Governments
The London Times" following closely in It's
leaders the cue given by its New-York corre-
spondent. has assumed that the act of the Pres-
dent in appointing a Commission to deal with
the Behring Sea question dscoses an intention
to evade the consequences of the Paris award
and strike a blow at the principle Of arbitra-
tion Mr.. Fosters timely explanation helps to
correct this premature judgment by laying
stress upon the fact that the preservation of the
fur sea! herd was the chief object Of the Paris
Tribunal, and that both o,overnments are
pledged to accomplish that sut The decision
Of the Paris Tribunal was in favor of England
on points Of international law, and in favor of
the United States questions of fact and policy
relating to the preservation Of the seals. The
subject can be reopened by mutual consent with
out violence TO the principle OF arbitration
The point which the English press does not
consider is the large industrial interests men,
coed by the destruction Of the seals. London is
the chief fur market Of the world and seal
skins mainly dyed dressed here. The
industry is large one. employing a great force
Of expert workers. When Canadian seal hunt
ers attempt to destroy the herd in Behring Sea
they not only strike at American seal hunters,
but also at the English industry employed in
dyeing and dressing the skins. The two nations
have joint interest in adopting effective meas
ures for the protection of the herd now in dan
ger Of determination. 1t Is a fact well known in
the fur trade Of London that sealskins are al
ready deter!oratng in quality, owing to irregular
and promiscuous catches by the Canadians in
Behring Sea. and that international action is in
dispensable IL this valuable class Of furs Is TO be
preserved: for every other herd of fur seals
has been hunted down and destroyed from the
face OF the waters.
The American case is fairly treated in to-day's |
~speaker." which remarks that what will be re-
opened is not the Behring Sea controversy. but |
merely the question of pelagic sealing restric-
items. for which the provisions laid down in 1895
have distinctly failed in their object THE |
Speaker considers It question Of natural his
tory. not Of law, ond contends that If the ex-
tstence Of the whole species Of fur seal is really
endangered It would be the merest pedantry for |
England to object TO reopening the question.
Mr.. Gladstone. in his fierce letter published |
to-day. describes England and Europe as follow |
Eng helplessly in the train of two young despots |
Sir William Harcourt has sounded the same |
note Of warning against England's abandon
ment Of freedom Of action and her assumption |
of dangerous obligations to the military EN- |
p!res Undoubtedly the Powers would have been |
saved from disgrace IL England at the right |
moment had followed Cannings great example |
and insisted upon her right to independence of |
action on the Cretan question; but now that |
the armies are facing each other on the Mace |
DOMAIN frontier. England ought not 10 Withdraw |