Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-15
RESENT SHERMAN'S LETTER
British Public Express Indignation at Its
Phraseology.
The Government. However, Docs Not
to De Held Here I'm Autumn,

LoNDON. July 15.-While among the
general public here the tone of Secretary
Sherman's letter to Ambassador HAY re-
garding the Bering sea seal regulations
Is greatly resented the correspondent of
'he Associated Press is In a position to
say that whatever criticism the British
government may have to make on the
phraseology of the communication, the let
ter has not in any way affected unfavora-
oiy the negotiations which Colonel Hay
has been conducting
A conference will be held in Washing
ton during the autumn, at which the
United States, Great Britain, Russia and
Japan will be represented.
Conferences With Salisbury.
Since the presentation of Secretary Sher-
mans note to Lord Salisbury. Ambassador
Hay has had repeated conferences with
his iordship. all of which have been of
the most friendly character. The most
conciliatory spirit is displayed In the mat
ter by the British foreign office. as is evil
dent by the decision to hold conference.
which. although rot yet formally
nouIced. may be regarded as settled.
1t may also be taken for granted that
Canada does not oppose this decision. Mr.
Davies. the Canadian minister of marine,
in an interview with the correspondent
of the Associated Press today said:
I'VE regard TIC latest proposals of the
There is the friendliest feeling with re-
gard to the negotiations between the two
governments. and in view of this, the
two peoples should not be resontful l
think this is a reasonable view TO take
of the matter
Il have talked with Mr.. John w. Foster
as to the reports that the correspondence
might provoke some unpleasantness," con-
tinued Mr.. Davies. land he agrees with
me that there is no reason for resentment.
However. 1 do not consider II fair that
orly one side of the correspondence should
be published. The Canadians have never
believed that the seals were in any real
danger of extinction. Distinctly, on the
contrary, it is proved 10y statistics that
they are steadily increasing"
Evening Papers i'm n Rage.
The evening newspapers are in a rage
over the matter. The halfpehny journals
issue sensational placards bearing such
lines as: Twisting the lions tail again"
and America shrieks at England
The more serious papers deal with the
situation editorially. The Globe, in slash
ing article headed Yankee insolence''
says:
Refers to CIeveland's Messnge.
''The memories of Cleveland's impertinent
message are all revived by the extraor-
dinary and insulting dispatch which MIR.
Sherman has permitted to find its way into
the papers. Waving the merits of the
y
naturalists, the astonishing tone of Mr..
Sherman Is In defiance not only of the
usages OF diplomacy, but of the maxiyns
OF ordinary civiity. Engishmen will be
glad to see that Lord Salisbury has. so
far as patrol Of the seal fisheries is con-
oerned. treated the message though IL had
never been sent II he were to go a step
further and to direct Sir Julian Paunce-
fote to intimate to Mr.. Mckinley that her
maJestys government declines to receive
dlspatches couched In such language, and
could only reply to the next by handing
Colonel Hay his passports, the action
would be indorsed by the complete approval
of the nation"
The Pan Mail Gazette says: Mr.. sher-
mans tone is not what II might be- but the
nastiest feature of the affair is the pubIi
cation of the dispatch at ALL"
Ihe Westminster Gazette refers TO Mr.
sherman's somewhat ugly dispatch" and
says:
Seals, like silver. get into American par-
~ pohtics 1t is an ugly symptom that
seals should be used to provide the new
Ainelican government with means for a
demonstration against England The Nc
kinley government will inevitably disap-
point the American jin2ces in the matter
OF silver. and thinks it necessary TO clear
itself OF pro-British suspicious by strikin,,
TOO heroic attitude in the matter of
seals"
st. james Gazettc's Views
The st. James Gazette SAYS:
The publication is a further demop
stration of certain transatlantic methods
OF diplomacy which may one day involve
consequei ces much more serious. The tail
twisters IL ink that a dispatch couched in
terms of studied discourtesy and menace
toward this country is small matter
We are used to that. The real gist OF the
situation is the fact that the United States
considers that kind of language safe. But
II is not safe and after some affront more
or less Migrant we may some day find that
we cannot yield to them: and then might
arise a situa ton of the gravest peril. There
are three great nations involved in the
present dispute. 1t affects Canada: and SIR
Wiifrid LaIrier will be able to tell Lord
salisbury of the deplorable effect produced
on public opinion in Canada by vrhat
every one in America believes to he our
recent surrender to the United States