The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-24
THE BBRlNC SEA AWARD
It Settles a Long Standing Interna-
- tional Complication.
UNCLE SAM MUST PAY PROMPTLY

Payment Under the Treaty Must BE
Made within Six Months-Award Is
Final and DIsposes OF All Cases Be-
fore 1t.
Washington. Dec. a.-The findings Of
the British American commission chosen
to assess the damages for seizures OF
British ships in Bering sea have been
received by the state department ana
the British embassy. The strictest
reticence is maintained, however, on
the general character of the finding,
though it is admitted that the total
Of the award against the United States
Is s4G4 900, which includes principal and
interest. A separate statement of the
award, divided into principal and In
terest, is refused at this time. In
order to avoid misrepresentation 1t
should be understood that the finding
against his government is no surprise,
that being a certainty under the find
ing of the Paris court Of arbitration
that the United States had no right
to close Bering sea against foreign
ships. The international commissions
only duty was to assess the amount
of the damages.
The controversy has occupied the at
tention Of the authorities here and In
London for the last II years. At the
outset the tone of the controversy was
very beligerent, suggesting possible
resort to arms. This was following the
seizure by the United States steamer
Corwin of the British sealers Carolena
and Thornton on Aug. /. 1886. The same
policy of seizure and confiscation oc-
Cured during the next sealing seasons,
despite the protests Of Great Britain.
The only official statement that could
be secured here Of the judgment reach
ed by the commissioners Is contained
In the following announcement given
out at the safe department.:
"The claims as presented by the
British government to the commission
on account of Canadian vessels seized
in Berng sea aggregated, with Interest,
S1,500, 000 These included, under the
claims treaty, several cases not en-
braced In the settlement proposed by
Secretary Gresham. The award now
made amounts to 1894. to which
Is to be added interest, which will in
crease the total about 50 per cent. The
award Is final, and disposes Of all cases
before it. Payment under the treaty
must be made within six months"
There appears to be little doubt that
the United States carried its point on
the main question involved, viz, as to
the right of prospective damages for
sealskins which might have been taken
If the vessels had not been seized. The
British claim included these estimated
profits, which in the aggregate ran the
claim up to high figure. In view of
the small amount of the actual award,
without interest these large prospec-
tive damages evidently are scaled down
to Insignificant amount, or rejected
entirely:
General John W. Foster. who Is now
in general charge of Bering sea affairs,
said last night that he was not sur
prised at the result. President Cleve-
land having officially declared that
$425,O0O was just and equitable sum
in settlement, and therefore having ap-
pointed as the American commissioner
to adjudicate the claims a close per-
sonal and political friend, 1t could
hardly be expected that the latter
would strenuously contend foran award
ibf less amount,