Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-07-16

fishing state Of facts beyond refuta-
ton and which is in part set forth in
my note to the British ambassador of
the same date as my cablegram to you.
1t is therefore quite surprising that her
majesty's secretary should base his re-
lection of the proposals of this govern
ment, so impressively presented, upon
the report of one scientist. whose facts
and conclusions are incorrectly appre-
hcnded, and the delayed report of an
other, which is for the first time made
public concurrently with the receipt of
his lordship's note 1t would have been
gratifying to me and useful to my gov
ernment, in studying the important
subject under considerat ton if Profess
sor ThompSon'S report could have been
made public with the promptness
which marked the appearance of that
of DIR. Jordan. In that case there
would have been ample time for both
governments to have examined the re-
ports of these two eminent scientists
before the opening of another sealing
season. But it seems to have better
suited the purposes of her majesty's
government to withhold Professor
iiiciiipooii . Itlpit su1itll all D'ipT-
tunity was afforded to examine that of
DIR. Jordan, and thus enable the former
to pass the latter in review, criticise
its statements and as far as possible
minimize its conclusions"
1t will be seen that this is equivalent
to charging trickery and on good
grounds, for he goes on to show that
the trick is an old one
1T is not pleasant, he says to have
to state that the impartial character
which it has been the custom to attrib-
ute to the reports of naturalists of high
standing has been greatly impaired by
the apparent subsection of this report
to the political exigencies of the situa-
ton 1t is further to be regretted that
the report was so long delayed that no
opportunity was afforded this govern
ment to examine it before the definite
and final rejection of the Presidents $
proposals. based mainly upon it's con-
clusions, was communicated to me.
This conduct recalls the incident which
preceded the arbitration at Paris and
which came near rendering that arbi-
tration abortive. when a similar report
OF British commission was withheld
until after the case of each govern
ment was exchanged and the report of
the American commission made pub
lie
Secretary Sherman then proceeds to
pick the English report to pieces and
succeeds admirably. Professor
Thompson's report is plainly written
with view to minimize as far as pos
sible the depleted condition of the herd
on the Pribyloff islands, and requires a
critical examination not possible with
ton" But while the evident attempt
to minimize is so apparent the secreta-
ry points out that Thompson is forced
TO concede that There is still album
dant need for care and for prudent
| measures of conservation in the inter-
! est of all"
The obligation upon each government
interested to patrol Behring sea and
England's neglect to do so are pointed
OUT, the lIlln SubtcfIuSe presented is
punctured in other parts. 1t is evident
the present administration does not
intend the disgraceful conditions in
which this question has been left for
the past three years shall be concealed
by any pretexts England in her desire
to favor Canada may devise. The re-
proof for Juggling" of reports is a
| needed one. For notwithstanding her
| vaunted achievements in that line many
people long ago learned to discredit the
so-called Investigations conducted un-
| der the auspices of the British govern
| ment. case in point recurs to mind
the report of the commission which
| England sent to India to inquire into
the effects Of the opium habit, which
! England has fostered for gain. The
commission in its desire to smooth
away the qualms of that not inconsid-
cradle number of the British people, who
| still find their consciences troublesome
went to the absurd extreme of finding
that opium was rather blessing than
a curse to the poor people of India and
China, when the whole world knows
better.
i 4.