New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-17
REHPING SEA AGAIN.

The mother raised on both sides Of the Atlantic
over the Presidents appointment of new Beh-
ring Sea Commission would be ludicrous if II
were not actually taken seriously by people who
ought 10 know better. and if the cause OF hui
manity and international friendship were not
thus TO some small degree imperillcd. The world
Is variOusly informed, with all possible inflec-
lions of pathOs and indignation. that the United
States Government Is thus repudiating the prln-
cpe of arbitration, that ii is seeking to evadc the
award of the Paris tribunal, that IL is trying 10
reopen n case that has been finally closed, and
much more. Which statements, however diver
gent in detail. in absolute accord in this one
fundamental respect, that they are quite untrue.
The fact is that, instead of repudiating arbi-
tration the United States Is acting in strict ac-
cordance with that principle If not, instead OF
appointing q commission ii would send war
ships TO Bchring Sea. Instead of seeking TO
ovade the Paris award, ii is seeking TO enforce
and 10 fulfil it, That award did not make and
did not purport TO make final settlement of
the sealing business. 1t merely laid down the
law according TO which further settlement
should be made 1t declared that Behring Sea
was an open, not a closed, sea; that the United
States had no ownership of the seals in the high
seas; that the United States had erred in sezing
British ships engaged in pelaglc sealing: and
that compensation for such seizures and regula-
tons for .pelagic sealing were matters which
the Governments of Great Britain and the
United States should settle between themselves.
Those decisions were against the United
States. But the United States acquiesCcd in
them. When this country submits case to ar
bitration, it abdcs by the result. This Govern
ment abandoned the claim that Behring Sea was
q closed sea. 1t renowned It's claim to owner
ship of seals on the high sea. II admitted its
obligation TO pay damages TO Great Britain for
It's seizures of British Scacrs. II is nj this mo-
ment in the most straightforward and cxpcdi-
tlous way negotiating for the payment of such
damages in full. 1t has no intention of break
ing OFF those negotiations or Of evading pay
ment. If it did not pay long ago, that is because
the Cleveland Administration sought to do so in
an improper way; sought TO settle by paying
lump sum agreed upon in a hoc-and-corner fash
ion. instead of honestly and impartially nvesti-
eating all claims and paying those which were
found valid to the satisfaction of both govern
monts, as the Paris tribu lal intended.
Thus having scrupulously lived up TO the let
ter and spirit OF the Paris award this Govern
ment now seeks to fulfil the one remaining item,
u
of pelagic sealing The Paris tribunal decreed
that Great Britain and the United States should
do this. \ few years ago they attempted to do
II. Regulations were adopted But these have
proved TO be insufficient and unsatisfactory.
Both governments recognized that fact. From
England. as well as from America, arises an
urgent demand, in the name Of humanity and OF
practical business interests, for further action
by the two governments. British as well as
American experts have been officially sent TO
investigate the matter. And now the United
States takes the initiative in moving for joint
action That is all there is in it. There is not
the slightest notion of denying or delaying settle
ment of tile British claims. There is not the
slightest notion of repudiatng the Paris award,
but only of more completely executing il. These
are the cold and concrete facts in the case, and
he who makes representations TO the contrary
Is doing no good service To either country.