The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-18
BEHR1xG SEA CoRREsPoNDENcK.
salisbury's Reply to sherman's Much.Dts-
cussed Despatch.
Special Cable Despatch to THE Sun.

Special Cable Despatch to THE Sun.
LONDON, Sept. 1.-THE Foreign Office has
issued a blue book Of 100 pages containing the
correspondence with the United States Govern
ment respecting the seal fisheries in Behring
Sea. 1t contains 1O7 dispatches covering the
period from the beginning of 1895 to July, 1897.
Lord Salisbury. replying to Secretary Of State
Sherman's famous despatch Of May 10, 1897.
sent a short note to Ambassador Hay on July
2s. in when he said:
Il have to state that her Majesty's Govern
ment are willing to agree to a meeting of OK
perts. nominated by Great Britain. Canada, and
the United States, in October next, when fur
ther Investigations to be made on the islands
during the present season will have been COM
pleted.
The object OF the meeting would be to arrive
at correct conclusions respecting the numbers,
condition, and habits OF the seals frequenting
the Pribylov Islands at the present time, rs
compared with several seasons previous, and
subsequent to the Paris award.
1T seems to her Majcsty's Government that
Washington would be the most suitable place
for such meeting.
THE other portions of Mr.. Sherman's despatch.
in SO far as they require any reply from her
Majesty's Government, have been answered
by anticipation in dispatches which I
addressed to her Majesty's Ambassador al
" aSulHBtOu Ou apTl = anu MAY 4 lhbt, III
which have been communicated to the Govern
ment OF the United States
The foregoing deals only with one of Mr..
Sherman's points. Colonial Secretary Chamber
lain apparently undertook to refute others.
which he does in an important communication
covering four columns addressed from the Co
lonial to the Foreign Office. This despatch Is
sure TO be regarded here as an able and mas
terly refutation.
Mr.. Chamberlain's despatch, which is dated
July 90. 1897. processes to show that Great
Britain has taken adequate measures. much
more complete in some directions than those
taken by the United States. for securing the en-
forcement OF the regulations.
1t was never intended by the tribunal of arb-
tration that the officers OF the United States
should have the power OF supervising or con-
trolling the action of British naval and customs
officers, as Mr.. sherman demands. In the in.
s~pection OF skins the British Government.
says Mr.. Chamberlain, has not omitted to
adopt the legislation necessary to secure the
conviction OF the guilty. but have refused to
pass legislation certain to embarrass and injure
the innocent. They refused to seek legislation
authorizing an inspection OF skins. because they
do not believe such inspection would serve any
useful purpose.
They have performed with the utmost rigor
all the requirements OF the award. but have
had 10 make continual and unavailing protests
against the attempts of the United States 10
hamper and embarrassing operations of British
subjects pursuing their lawful vocations.
The Times. in its first leader. says:
"When the offensive and unwarrantcd attack
by Mr.. Sherman on the good faith OF this country
was disclosed, there was n general desire 10
treat ii as a mere personal outbreak OF
Ill temper and Ill manners. Lord Salisbury's
subsequent assent TO n conference OF experts