New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-21

lull document IL rcdcned the once late az night
in the absence of the responsible editor and thus
happened to be cut down to about half its
length. Unfortunately. in this process the tele-
graph desk left out large part of the proof
adduced in support of the statements made All
the subsequent discussions. including the recent
London comments. have been based solely upon
what The Tribune thus published. Justice to the
State Department now requires that the specl-
fcations it presented should be given much
publicity the general statements they were
intended TO prove. The entire letter is therefore
subjoined.-the part previously published being
now printed in smaller type.
THE FULL TENT OF THE DISPATCH.
Els Excellence John Hay etc. Lordon.
Sir: The British Ambassador has handed me a
principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
wrch dispatch consli,utes the reply OF the British
presented In a note OF your Embassy for modus
Sa pGF int nd q FOR all n ns of
of the Powers concerned. with view 10 the neces-
II the fur seal i in the &ofth racine It Vii be
seen that both proposals rejected.
disappointed az this action. especially when ii is
based upon such " substantial and Inadequate rei-
pie,ed condition Of tho seal herd, was occasoned
net alone from an examination of Or. Jcidan's re-
were the conclusions OF Professor Thompson. bu,
based a
heated by these gentlemen. establishing "A state OF
soJta in ms note to tie British Amtassador OF he
,s,s cate al n @ 10 yGS
should base ms rejection Of tie proposals OF this
por, Of one seemis WHOSE cs and
ere incorrectly appreheaded. and the delayed re-
eort VI another. when Is Tor tne nrSt ume ad maze
ii would have been grat,fymg to me; and useful l
20 Government. IN studying the important SUD-
.ct under consideration. If Professor Thompson
,romptness which marked the appearance OF that
Or , For o hS theme Would b have
ned the reports OF these two eminent scientists
,ne 81 sed , 6e PURPOSES Of H
Mejesty's Government TO withhold Professor
ed to Examine tha, Of Dr. jordan Si and thus enable
the former TO the latter in review crticse It's
statements. and as far as possible minimize its
Ii is not pleasant to have to state tina, the i'm
attribute TO the reports Of naiurasts Of high stand
@ hss been o b greatly ire BY the
Of the situation II is further TO be regretted that
Vas afforded thi. GO GovernnSnt to examine i be-
fore the definite and final rejection, OF me Pres
was communicated to me. This conduct recalls
the Incident which preceded the arbitration at
tration sSorV Vc' When Similar rep report Of British
commission was Withheld until after the case Of
the American Commission made public.
RAPID DECLINE OF THE HERD.
Lord Salisbury asserts that Dr. Jordan's report
does not contain any facts warrantins the state
peetive early extinction Of the herd The note
Of your Embassy OF the 10Th u does not s tra,
cult to understand how any one can read his report
a eondch e the the Ser n page IS he IS
From this time Gsssl on the decline has been more
rapid and has been continuous.
On page p he clearly recognizes dimlnution. as
evidenced by photographs. as also by decrease OF
the herd is steadily diminishing. the spring. or
northwest. catch is becoming relatively unimpor.
would seem unnecessary in View OF his declara-
lions often repeated IN his report port respecng
& eaSe sealing In 9s as been on
the sole cause OF tn, ontinued decline Of the fur
seal herds. II is at present the sole obstacle TO
definite increase 1t is therefore. evident that no
settlement OF the fur-seal question. as regards
permanent unless ii shall provide FOR the cessa-
ton OF the indscriminate killing Of fur seals.
tion. u There S can be no open sea-on for the xiii
ing OF females II the herd is TO be kept intact"
Professor Thompson's report Is plainly written
With a view % minimize as far as possible The
islands, and requires a critical examination not
possible within the Limits OF the present instruc-
II on !. 10 be regretted hat he should have con-
tracted his study far within the purview Of his
THE main object OF my mission was the collection
Of Information and statistics wh regard to The
the Paris Tribunal But we look in vain in his
for any 10, 9f h9 9mDap
the subordinate subject OF the number Of seals
snor,ss No ere IN i and s The result OF his
observations and inquiry seemed 10 be that on
ers n decrease but ON the whole possible state
Of cQuilinriu for the last Two years. although he
comedies dminuiIon az compared with 1892 II
ali the professor claims is admitted It does not
initiate against The contention that since pelagic
sealing became general the decline OF the herd has
been steady and rapid.
well explained by DR.. Jordan. when he says page
~: 'Srhorc Is cvidfncc that The mpcus viyendi -
i ~ Which tho ssrnG S ga 80, S' ,3s ;ss 70
sllsht check o' me dlmlnution The reason for
no MUGS Were starved 10 death in is2 and 1913 and
those which night have fesh E,ntY"o hS t: re-,
turned an breeders or as f'laoie seals ~ ls' anil
Since the rec.,p, Of Lord eal.burys .dispatch tx
The relative condition Of the herd In 1855 ard 1890.
s ssa IL p on he Decne o. The Here from he
forthcoming nnsl report o, lsch nn0
The amour, Of the decline csnnot b. given Win
mathematical erae,uess. ,s possible from The data
at hand 10 make an approximate estimate. FROM
careful study Of all TIE condition. T. or opini9n
he fp..eai sera Q. hs rrsyion slsn1s ha, 10,
somewhat les. than one-bef Isl, ~ re " isS ana
been a decrease Of sbop, 70 per cent"
THE NEED ron CARE AID PRUDENCE
Although profe,sor Thompson has BEEN very
careful throughout the report 90 gay nothing likely
embarfass his SOycfD!neDl ~ me .fOhtlnsloht,
the Voice OF the true ScisniH~ inNesiiga0r spehk-
n Arm and certain toner. While he regards "the
sisrming staicmouts of the nerds I'm
meme decrease" as 1yfrdfawD, he S5ys; 'Tbef" -
SIN abundant need for esr" Sn1 or prudent meas
IL 10 not difieult 70 believe that the margin ~
safefy f. a narrow one, n II be not already IN some
measure oyersteppsd. We may hope FOR p"fp"iu-
alton OF the present Dpmb.'s; sc tentq' count
upon sn incFs1ss Ana n r. my earnest hop" thhi
a recognition OF mutual Interests ara regard i0f
the common 1dyantags MAJ fuggeft 'noaauIer ni
prudence which snail keep tho pursuit. SOC rang v
Ter OF the animals within due and definite bophdt
In View Of such explicit srgyng", y ~ mol edty
10 understand how Lord kaIisbury can reconcile
his refusal 10 entertain me propesah Of ne Irr.-