Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-04
ference, where both creditors and debtors
will be assembled. to consider the sub

Central America.
Last June trouble which had existed for
some time between the Republics of Saliva
dor, Guatemala, and Honduras eliminated
In war-a war which threatened to be ruin
Gus to the countries involved and very de-
structive to the commercial interests OF
Americans, Mexicans, and other foreigners
who are taking an important part in the
development Of these countries. The
thoroly good understanding which exists
between the United States and Mexico en-
abled this Government and that OF Mexico
to unite in effective mediation between the
warning Republics; which mediation re-
suited. not without long-continued and pa
t1ent effort. In bringing about a meeting
or the representatives of the hostile pow
ers on board United States warship as
neutral territory, and peace was there
concluded; a peace which resulted in the
saving OF thousands of lives and In the
prevention of an incalculable amount of
misery M . and the destruction Of property and
ference past the following resolution in
reference to this action:
mat the Third International American
Conference shall address to the Presidents
OF the United States Of America and Of
the United States of Mexico a note in
Wncn the conference which is being held
at a. M, lilo expresses its satisfaction at the
celebration of peace between the Republics
OF guatemala. Honduras. and Salvador"
rms affords an excellent example Of one
way In which the influence Of the United
states can properly be exercised for the
benefit of the peoples of the Western
a hemisphere here that is. by action taken in
therefore free from those suspicious and
prejudices which might attach If the ac-
ION Were taken by one alone. In this way
fiuence toward the substitution Of con-
slderate action in the spirit of justice for
me ,ne insurrsctionary or international VIC
hlndrance to the development of many of
our neighbors: Repeated examples Of
united action by several or many Amer
lean republics in favor of peace, by urging
cool and reasonable, instead of excited
and belligerent, treatment Of international
controversies. can not fail to promote the
the American nations which will elevate
the standards of international action,
strengthen the sense of international duty
among governments. and tell in favor Of
the peace of mankind.
Panama Trip.
1 have just returned from trip to PAN
anna and shall report to you at length
later on the whole subject of the Panama
Canal.
The Algeciras Convention.
The Algeciras Convention which was
signed by the United States as we'll as by
most of the powers of Europe. supersedes
the previous convention of 1880, which
was also signed both by the United States
and majority of the European powers.
This treaty confers upon us equal COM
mercial rights with all European countries
and does not entail a single obligation of
any kind upon us, and I earnestly hope it
may be speedily ratified To refuse to
ratlfy 1t would merely mean that We for
feited our commercial rights in Morocco
and would not achieve another object of
any kind: In the event of such refusal
we would be left for the first time in a
hundred and twenty years without any
at time when we are everywhere seeking
new markets and outlets for trade.
Fur Seals.
The destruction Of the Pribilof Islands
fur seals by pelagic sealing still continues
The herd which. according to the surveys
made in 1874 by direction of the Congress,
numbered 100000, and which, according
to the survey of both American and Cana
dian commissioners in 1891, amounted to
l 100000. has now been reduced to about
100000. This result has been brought
about by Canadian and some other seal
ing vessels killing the female seals while
In the water during their annual pilgrim
age to and from the south, or in search Of
food AS rule the female seal when
killed is pregnant and also has an I'M
weaned pup on land, so that. for each skin
taken by pelagic sealing, as rule three
lives are destroyed-the mother, the I'M
born offspring. and the nursing pup. which
is left to starve to death. No damage
whatever is done to the herd by the care
fully regulated killing On land; the custom
Of pelagic sealing is solely responsible for
all Of the present evil. and is alike indie
from the standpoint Of humanity.
In 1896 over 10000 young seals were
found dead from starvation on the Prib-
ilof Islands. In 1897 it was estimated
that since pelagic sealing began upward
of 100000 adult female seals had been
killed at sea, and over 100000 young seals
had died of starvation as the result The
revolving barbaritY of such practise, as
well as the wasteful destruction which it
involves, needs no demonstration and is
its own condemnation. The Boring Sea
which decided against the claims of the
United States to exclusive jurisdiction
in the waters of Boring Sea and to a
right in the fur seals when out
side of the three mile limit, determined
also uron certain regulations which the
considered sufficient for the
fur seal in. or habitually resorting to, the
Berng Sea. The Tribunal by its regu-
lations established close season. from
t of Nay to the Sast of July and es
miles around the Pribilof Islands. They
also provided that the regulations which
they had determined rpon, with a view to
the protection and preservation of the
seals. should be submitted every five
years to new examination. so as to enable
both interested Governments to consider
whether. in the light of past experience
there was occasion for any modification
thereof.
The regulations have proved plainly in
adequate to accomplish the object of pro-
lection and preservation Of the fur seals,
and for a long time this Government has
been trying In vain to secure from Great
Britain such revision and modification of
the regulations as were contemplated and
provided for by the award of the Tribunal
of Paris.
The process of destruction has been &C
CELEBRATED during recent years by the ap-
pearance of a number of Japanese vessels
engaged in pelagic sealing. AS these ves-
sells have not been bound even by the in
adequate limitations prescribed by the
Tribunal of Paris. they have paid no atten-
ton either to the close season or to the
sixty-mile limit imposed upon the Cana
dams, and have prosecuted their work
up to the very islands themselves. On
July 10 and II. the crews from several
Japanese vessels made raids upon the
island Of ST. Paul, and. before they were
beaten off by the very meager and INSULT
GENTLY armed guard. they succeeded in
killing several hundred seals and carrying
off the skins of most of them. Nearly all
the seals killed were females and the
,YorL was done with frfghtful barbarity