The Portland daily press., 1897-12-24
BEHRINa SEA AWARDS.
Ofiicial Statement Made to State Depart
ment.

| Washington, December 23.-The find
| ings of the British commission
chosen to assess the damages for the seiz-
ure of British ships in Behring sea have
been received by the state department. and
the British embassy.
The strictest reticence is maintained in
regard ito the finding, though it is ad-
mitted that the total of the award against
the United States is $464, 900 which in
cludes the principal and interest.
The international commissions only
duty was to assess the amount Of dam
ages. The amount allowed is considered
to some extent vindication of the state
department which had sought to settle
the question: without commission for
1926, 600.
tion of the authorities here and in Lon
don for eleven years. At the outset the
| tone OF the controversy was very belliger-
ent suggesting possible resort to arms.
This was followed by the seizure by the
United States steamer Corwin of the
British sealers Carolina and Thornton on
August /, 1886
The same policy of seizure and con-
fiscation continued during the next seal
ing season, despite the protests OF Great
Britain.
The total of the claims, without in
terest, amounted to $439, l61, and with in
terest at seven per cent and other claims.
| the total reached S796, 165.
The only official statements that could
be secured here of the Judgment reached
by the commissioners is contained in the
following announcement given out by the
state department this afternoon: ~
"The award of the Behring Sea Claims
Commission has been filed in the Depart
ment Of State. The claims as presented
by the British government TO the COM
mission on account of Canadian vessels
seized in Behring sea aggregated with
interest 81, $50, ,000 These Include, under
the claims, several cases not embraced in
the settlement proposed by Secretary
Gresham. The award now made amounts
to 1894, .9l, to which is to be added in
terest which will increase to total about
poses of all cases before it. Payment
under the treaty must be made within six
| months -
The departmental officials, it is as
sumed. will at once prepare bill or sn
amendments to one of the regular appro-
priation bills for submission to Congress
covering the necessary appropriation to
pay the judgment.
There appears to be little doubt that the
United States carried its point on the
main question involved, viz: AS to the
right Of prospective damages for sealskins
which might have been taken if the ves-
sells had not been seized. The British
claim included these estimated profits
which in the aggregate ran the claim up
to high figure.
Jntimations are given that the small
ness of award precludes the possibility of
any allowance having been made on ac-
count of prospective damages.
TIMES IS SATISFIED.
London, December 24.-The Times in
an editorial this morning expressing
satisfaction at the Behring sea settlement
which, it anticipates Congress will not
object to, protests against the 'loose in
| situations of bad faith ON the part of the
United States government, which have
been tholghtlessly and unjustifably made
in England" 1t points out that there
could not be question of bad faith be.
cause no agreement had hitherto been ar
rived ut as to the amount of compensa.
| ton.
| Dealing with the original aspects of the
sealing question, the editorial concludes:
"The American company must either
make fair and business-like proposals or
the present conditions of seal fishing must
continue They are not, after all, SO ut
terly destructive of the fur seal as in
terested persons represent them to be.