The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-24
MUST PAY FOR
Selling S[ALERS
HI|l Cost The Un|'ed SI0|eS Some
lnIng Ne0T H0|I0 Million.
AWARD OF BEHRING SEA CLAIMS COMMISSION
Termination Of a Diplomatic Controversy of
Seven Years Standing.
ClaimA of British Subjects Reduced
to One Third OF Original Demand
United states Had No Right to
Close BehrinE Sen Against Foreign
: Shipa-EIuse Fay for Estimated
Losscs-F,nding Not n surprIxe-
Gmcinl statement.
Washington, Dec. 23, 1897.

-g.. washington, Dec. rs, 1891.
The findings Of the Brtish-A American
commission, chosen ito assess the dam
ages for seizures of British ships in
Bering sea, have been received by the
State Department and the British en-
bassy. The strictest re,icence is main
tained. however, on the general char
acter OF the finding, though 1t Is adj
mitted that the to.al of the award
against the United States IS S46l 600,
which includes principal and interest.
A separate statement of the award d.
vided into principal and interest Is 1e-
fused at this time
In order to avoid Misrepresentation It
should be understoQ6. that the finding
against this Government is no sur
prise, that being u certainty under the
finding of the Paris court OF ar5ltrat ton
that the United States had no right
J. ITO close BerinE> sea against foreign
ships's'~The In International COMMISSIONS s
only duty was to assess the amoun. Of
damages. The amount allowed is cen
eidercd to some extent n vlndiration of
the State Department, which hal sought
10 settle the question without a com
1iiiSoici XVI S5EO,uUu. Inc award now
made exceeds this sum consl iarahly,
and besides this there will he the eX-
pense OF the arbitration AMI also the
posslbie~Sstab tablishmcni of some unfor-
lunate precedents as to the obligat lion
or the United States to pay estimate,
or prospective DAMAGES
Inc controversy las occupied tEn
attention of the authorities here and
In London for the las. eleven wears
AL The DntSpt or
was very belllgcrcnt. Suggesting, n nce
slp!e resort to arms. This was follow
lng the seizure NV the CnNcd States
steamer Corwin of the British seaIe,-s
Cnrolena and Thornton. on August III
1885. The facts CT the seizure w.rn
moi known until some time later, and
an 'he meantime :he Corwin had takan
ing inward and Favoar':e. The same
poiicy OF seizure ana conflscntjou o..
CURED during the next sailing s.asous
despite the protests of Great Pri;a:n
me United States ship Richard Rush
taxing the Sayward, trace, A.,nc I,c,,l
dolphin, Alfred Adams Triump, In,
niata, Pathiinder. Black i,ianor,., .j;v
Ariel Kate and Miunia, will. tho
Ada. 500 '"e
The claims for these sczures tool,
VIDE range, beginning with the value or
the vessels and outfits and isclud;ne
not only the value OF seal s;,t5s CO..
nSoated. but also the value of sk;ns
wnlch might have been taken ;f ,bo
SHIPS mad not been seized. This Ia st
feature OF prospective damage caused
the main contention. In the case of
each british ship the largest item or
me cia!m was for estimated future
csllch. For instance, irl the case of tho
oarolena, the claim for the shin was
Only $4,000. while that for skins which
niiEht nave been taken that year, if she
hau not been seized was SIG ,667. Each
snip estimated prospective catch of
from 5000 to 5000 skins, the value being
from S350 per skin in 1897 and s12o5 I'm
!Ss9. The total of the claims. without
interest, amounted to $439, 161 and with
Hi'ereSl At per cent, and other
charges the total reached s7S2, ,1G6.
me only official statement that could
DE secured here of the Judgment reach
Gu ny tne commissioners is contained
IN the Following announcement given
ont at the State Department tbis after
noon:
The award or the Berng Sea ella inns
commission has bcen filed In Tho he.
part OF state. The claims as presente cd
py the British Government TO the COM
mission on account of Canadian vessels
seized In Bering Sea aggregated, with
interest, Sl,5OO 900. These included. un-
DER The claims treaty, several cases not
embraced In the scttlpment rroposed nv
Secretary Gresham. The award now
maze amounts to S29i,191.9i to which
is to be added interest. which Will in
crease the total about so per cent. The
award Is final and disposes Of all cases
before It. Payment under the treaty
must be made within six moathe.'