New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-20
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE REPLY TO MR.. SHERMAN
NO COPY OF IT SENT BY THE BRITISH
FOREIGN OFFICE TO WASHINGTON.

THE COLONIAL OFFICES LONG REPORT ON THE
SEAL FISHERIES NOTE AND THE LONDON
TIMEs's" PUBLICATION OF 1T.
Washington. Sept 19.-The course which has
been pursued by the British Foreign Office, as
well as by English newspapers In regard to
Secretary Sherman's note OF May 10 on the
Behring Sea controversy Is the subject Of con-
siderable comment here. When that portion of
the note which followed a full recital OF the
facts in the published in The Tribune.
a synopsis of 1t was telegraphed to London s.
the Associated Press and published in all the
British newspapers. On the strength Of that
synopsis Secretary Sherman Immediately be-
came the object of criticism and denunciation,
and the British public was considerably excited.
When copies OF The Tribune containing the note
itself, or so much of it then published,
reached London another outbreak OF the same
sort was expected, but not single London news
paper nor $50 far as persons who felt special
interest in the matter could discovery any other
newspaper published in the United Kingdom re-
produced the Tribune publication or made any
comments upon it,
Now comes the official publication Of the en-.
tire correspondence by the British Foreign Office.
In The London Times" which appears to have
been favored with an advance copy Of the official
publication, the last paragraph only Of Secretary
Shermans note OF May 10 Is reproduced, but four
columns given to the report OF the British
Colonial Office the entire note, a copy OF
which had been referred to 1t by the Foreign
Office This report is referred to as Mr. Cham
berlans reply TO Secretary Sherman's note, but
a copy of it has not been transmitted by the For
eign Office to the Secretary of State, and there
fore he cannot take official notice Of it. This
o,ois 81 Ri haS excited cOnSid.
cradle surprise ..mong officials Of the State De-
partment.
IT, in the course Of the correspondence, the
State Department should have referred TO the
Treasury Department for remarks, communi-
cation from the British Foreign Office. ana the
report of the Secretary OF the treasury IN re-
sponse thereto should have been incorporated IN
official publication OF the entire correspond.
ence by the State Department. without copy or
II having been officially transmitted by the Sec
retary Of State TO the British FOREIGN ONCE, so
that it could receive official notice, the British
press would undoubtedly have INDUCED In some
more and indignant comments on Amer
lean diplomacy although the secretary OF Ssa.e
would have omitted to do only What the neao Oh
the British Foreign Office now appears TO nave
omitted To do in this case.
The officials Of the State Department are not
disposed to comment on the fur-seal correspond
ence given out by the British Foreign once
and summarized in THE London Times.
further than to say that IL shows that the oo.
ject sought by the Government of the United
States for the last three years has been attained
by the agreement of Great Britain TO partici'
pate in the conference TO be held In OCTOBER.
The British Government has seen fit to limit It's
part in the conference to an ascertainment OK
the facts in dispute as to seal life. II was pre-
cisely this result which was contemplated py
Secretaries Gresham and Olney when they pro-
posed the creation of a commission OF scientists
to ascertain whether under the operation OF the
existing regulations the seals were or were not
on the road to exterminaton. IL such com.
mission should report in favor OF the contention
Of the United States. this Government did not
doubt that Great Britain would consent to such
modification Of the regulations as would save
the seals from determination The continued re.
fusal of the British Government to consent to
such a commission and conference led to the
transmission to Ambassador Hay Of Secretary
Sherman's note of May 10. which was followed
by Lord Salisbury's reply agreeing to the con-
ference.