The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-07-16
BRITISH NEWSPAPER s;HfRlEKEKs
Tight Little Island Journals Throw a Fit
Over Sherman's Letter.

London, July 15.-The evening news
papers gnash their teeth with rage over
the sharp reply of Secretary Sherman to
Lord Salisbury in the seal controversy.
The hall. penny journals issue sensa-
tional 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 slashing article headed
Yankee Insolence' says:
"The memories of Cleveland's imperti-
nent message are all revived by the extra
ordinary and insulting despatch which
Mr.. Sherman has permitted to find Its
way into the papers. Waving the merits
of the question, which fortunately Is one
for the naturalists, the astonishing tone
of MIR. Sherman is in defiance not only OF
the usages of diplomacy but OF the
maxims of ordinary civility. Englishmen
will be glad to see that Lord Salisbury
has, so far as patrol of the seal fisheries
is concerned, treated the message as
though it had never been sent. If he were
to go step further and direct to Sir
Julian Pauncefote to intimate to MT. Nc
Kinley that Her Majesty's yernment
declines to receive dispatches couched In
such language and could only reply to the
next by handing Col Hay his passports,
the action would be endorsed by the COM
plete approval of the nation"
The Pail Mall Gazette says:
"Mr. Sherrnan's tone is not what 1t
might be, but the nastiest feature of the
affair is the publication of the despatch at
ALL"
The Westminster Gazette refers to Mr..
Sherman's somewhat ugly despatch"
and says:
'sSeals, like silver, get into American
party politics. 1t is an ugly symptom
that seals should be used to provide the
new American government with means
for demonstration against England.
The St. James Gazette says:
1.-THE publication is a further demon
stration of certain transatlantic methods
of diplomacy which may one day involve
consequences much more serious. Ihe
tail twisters think that despatch couched
in terms of studied discourtesy and
menace toward this country is a small
matter. We are used to that. The real
gist of the situation is the fact that the
United States considers that kind of lam
guage safe. But it is not safe, and after
some affront more or less fragrant, we
may some day find that we cannot yield
| to them; and then might arise situation
of the gravest peril.
While among the general people here,
the tone of Secretary Sherman letter to
Ambassador Hay regarding the Behring
| Sea seal regulations is greatly resented,
| the correspondent of the Associated Press
is in position to state that whatever
criticism the British government may
have to make on the phraseology Of the
communication, the letter has not in any
way affected unfavorably the negotiations
which Col. 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.
Since the presentation Of Secretary Sher-
mans note to Lord Salisbury, Ambassa-
dor Hay has had repeated conferences
with his Lordship, all of which have been
of the most friendly character.
1t may also be taken for granted that
Canada does not oppose.