New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-14
ENGLAND AND THE SEALS.
LORD sAL1sBuRY's POLICY DENOUNCED
BY SECRETARY SHERMAN
rHp INSTRUCTIONS ON THE SUBJECT SENT To
AMBASSADOR HAY MADp PUBLlc-A FORCE
rrL PRESENTATION Or THE CASE
OF THE UNITED STATES.


OF THE UNITED STATES.
- luY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnlBuSE.l
Washington. July 13.-lmportant ana eA-
haustive instructions have recently Deen sent w
Secretary Sherman TO Ambassador Hay Tor MS
guidance In urging on the British Government
a compliance with the provisions of the Behrng
Sea award which looked to the preservation
of sea, life in Alaskan waters. The instructions
were prepared as a reply 10 recent note from
Lord Salisbury handed to Secretary sherman
by Sir Julian Pauncefote a few days before the
British Arbas sador sailed from New-York Tor
London. They show at length Engiands pohe!
of procrastination. her continued failure anu
refusal to support this Government IN It's Ell
forts to prevent the determination OF the seal
herd and the anxiety of the United states ire
ouently made known to the London Foreign Or
fee. that steps should be taken to preserve the
seals az an obligation imposed by the Paris
Tribunal.
The instructions mastery presentation
of the grounds Of complaint which the Ad-
ministration bases it's protest against Lord
Salisbury's policy. AS Secretary Sherman says
in one sentence: England has from the be-
ginning. and continuously. failed TO respect the
real intent and spirit of the Paris Tribunal
or the obligations imposed by It," Briefly, after
condemning Great Britans past course in
strong terms, Secretary Sherman says that
President Mckinley yet cherishes the hope that
England may soon yield to this country's con-
tinued desire for conference Of the Powers
interested in the preservation Of the fur seals.
The instructions sent to Ambassador Hay will
be transmitted to Congress al no distant date as
part Of the Behring Sea correspondence the
compilation Of which. at the request Of the SEN
ate, has been completed at the State Depart
ment.
TEXT OF THE INSTRUCTIONS.
The instructions are, In substance, as follows:
His Excellency John Hay. etc. London,
The British Ambassador has handed me
copy Of dispatch to him from Her Majestys
principal Secretary of State for Foreign Anairs.
which dispatch constitutes the reply OF the
British Government to the proposals OF the
President. as presented in a note OF your EN-
bassy for a modus vivend! for the suspension
OF all killing Of seals for the present season.
and for joint conference Of the Powers con-
a cerned. with view to the necessary measures
being adopted for the preservation Of the fur
seal in the North Pacific. 1t will be seen that
both proposals rejected.
I need hardly say that the President Is greatly
disappointed at this action, especially when 1t Is
based upon such unsubstantial and inadequate
reasons. The Presidents concern, In view or the
depleted condition of the seal herd was occa-
stoned not alone from an examination OF DR..
Jordans report Of 1896. and what he had reason
suppose
Thompson, but it was based upon series of OBJ
servations and statistics covering much longer
period than that treated by these gentlemen
estabiishine state OF facts beyond peauta' ION
British Ambassador of the same date as my
cablegram to YOU 1t is therefore quite surprs-
ing that Her Majesty's Secretary should base
his rejection of the proposals Of this Govern
ment, so imprcssively presented, upon the report
of one scientist whose facts and conclusions are
incorrectly apprehended and The delayed report
xrbi ic fOr
lie concurrently with the receipt of His Lord
ships note.
LACK OF GOOD FAITH CHARGED.
II would have been gratifying to me and use
full to my Government, in studying the import
ant subject under consideration, II professor
Thompsons report could have been made pubic
with the promptness which marked the appear
ence Of that of Dr. Jordan. In that case there
would have been ample time Tor ooth No' . ~
ments TO have examined the reports or these Two
eminent scientists before the opening or another
sealing season. But it seems to nave better
suited the purposes of Her Majestys Govern
want n withhold Professor Thompsons report
until an opportunity was afforded to examine
that of Dr. Jordan and thus enable the former
to pass the latter in review critlcse us s'a az
,nents and as far as possible minimize lis con-
illusions. . 49,. .A. 40
II "a NOT peasant to have to state that the
impartial character which II mas oeeii .e
to attribute to the reports or naturaHsts oi h.sn
etanding has been greatly impaired ny 'he aP,
parent subsection Of this report TO the poliucal
exipencies of the situation II Is further 10 De
regretted that the report was SO long ueia!eu
that no opportunty afforded TINS Govern.
r,ent to examine II before the dennite ana ma,
rejection of the Presidents proposalS ted
mainly upon its conclusions. was coihhluhica 81 !,
10 me This conduct recalls the incident when
preceded the arbitration at Paris: ana Wnci
came rendering that arbi!ia.ion
when a similar report OF a BRUSH Cohiisso''
was withheld until after the case or each GOV
eminent was exchanged and the report OF the
American Commission maze puoNc'
RAPID DECLINE OF THE HERD
Lord Salisbury asserts that Dr. Jordan's re-
mort does not contain any facts warranting the
statement that there Is "a depleted condltlon ana
nrospectve early extinction of the herd the
note of your Embassy Of the 1Oth ult; does no ,,
attribute such statement to Dr. JORDAN put |,
Ss diNscult 10 understand how any one can reao
his report without reaching the CONCLUSION tha'
such is the real condition or the o nero CI pas
1S he saws: From this time 0SS6) on the de-
n,;na has been more rapid and has been con-
tinuous. ,.o a,,oin,,,or
as evidenced by photographs as also by decrease
~ barems ON Page &c he uses this expression
"As the herd is steadily diminishing, the spring
or northwest catch is becoming reIa." h ,,t
would seem unnecessary in view OF his declara-
tons often repeated in his report, respecting
peaglc sealing from which give only one tx
tract Page 90: "Pelagic sealing in the judg
ment Of the members Of the present commission
has been the sole cause of the continued decline
M tho f,Ir-seal herds. II is at present the sole
obstacle to their restoration. and the sole limit
OF their indefinite increase. 1t is therefore eVl
dent that no settlement OF the fur-sea question
as regards either the American or Russian isl'
ands can be permanent unless it shall provide
for the cessation Of the indiscriminate king o.
fur seals both on the sealing grounds ana OF
their migrations There can be no open season
FOR the killing of females II the herd is TO be
kept intact"
PROFESSOR THOMPsONS REPORT.
Professor Thompson's report is plainly writer
with a view 10 minimize far as possible the
depleted condition Of the herd on the Pribylof
Islands, and requires critical examination no
rnssihle within the limits Of the present instruc