The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-15
JOHN BULL HONLS.
The Tone Of Sherman's Foolish
Despatch Creates Very Bad
Public Feeling.

[By Gable to The Associated Press.I
LONDON, July Is, 1S97.-While among
the general public here theto of Sec
retary Sherman's letter to Ambassador
Hay regarding the Behring Sea seal reg
ulations is greatly resented, the corre-
spondent of the Associated Press Is in
position to say that, whatever criticism
the British Government may have to
make on the phraseology of the COM
munica ton, the letter has not in any
way affected unfavorably the negotia-'
tions which Colonel Hay has been con-
Quoting.
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
Sherman's note to Lord Salisbury, Am
bassador Hay has had repeated confer
ences with his Lordship, all of which
have been of the most friendly charac-
ter. The most conciliatory spirit is dis
played in the matter by the British For
eign Office, as is evidenced by the de-
cision to hold conference, which, al
though not yet formally announced, may
be regarded as settled.
1t may also be taken for granted that
Canada does not oppose this decision. Mr..
Davies, the Canadian Minister of Marine,
in an interview with the correspondent Of
the Associated Press today said
I'VE regard the latest proposals of the
United States as entirely reasonable.
There is the friendliest with regard to the
negotiations between the two Govern
ments and, in view of this the two peo-
pies should not be resentful."
Mr. Davies said:-'I have talked with
Mr.. John W. Foster as to the reports
that the correspondence might provoke
some unpleasantness; and he agrees with
me that there is no reason for resent
ment However, / do not consider 1t fair
that only one side of the correspondence
should be published. The Canadians
have never believed that the seals were
in any real danger of extinction. Dis
tinctly on the contrary it is proved by
statistics that they are readily inereas-
ing
The evening newspapers gnash their
teeth with rage over the sharp tone of
Secretary Sherman. The halfpenny jour
nails issue sensational placards bearing
such lines as Twisting the Lions Tail
Again." and America Shrieks at Eng
land" These are fair samples of their
furious rhetoric.
The more serious papers deal with the
situation editorially. The Globe in a
slashing article headed Yankee Inso-
Fortunately, the question is one for the
naturalists, the astonishing tone of Mr..
Sherman is in defiance not only Of
the maxims of ordinary civility.
Englishmen will be glad to see that Lord
Salisbury has, so far as a, patrol of the
t6d @
message as though it had never been sent.
II he We're to go a step further and to
to Mr.. Mckinley that Her Majesty's Gov
ernn1ent declines to receive dispatches
couched in such language and could only
reply to the next by handing Colonel Hay
his passports the action would be en-
dorsed by the complete approval Of the
nation
Shermans tone is not what it might be.
but the nastiest feature of the affair is
the publication of the despatch at ali.''
MI v asna efers 5o
and says:-"Seals, like silver get into
American party politics 1t is an ugly
symptom that seals should be. used to
with a means for demonstration against
England The Mckinley Government will
inevitably disappoint the American jim
necessary to clear. itself of pro-British
suspicious by striking a too heroic atti-
tude IN the matter of SEALS
The st. James Gazette savs:-The
publication is a further demonstration of
certain transatlantic methods of
diplomacy which may one day involve
consequences much more serious. The
tail-twisters think that despatch couch-
ed in terms of studied discourtesy and
menace toward this country Is small
matter. We are used to that. The real
gist of the situation is the fact that the
United State considers that kind of
language 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 then might arise d,s a
are three great nations involved in the
present dispute.
1t affects Canada, and Sir Wilfrid
Laurier will be able to tell Lord Sails
bury of the deplorable effect produced on
public opinion in Canada by what every
one in America believes to be our recent
surrender to the United States"