The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-04

portant part in the development of these
colJnfries The thoroughly good under
standing which exists between the United
States and Mexico enabled this govern
ment and that Of Mexico to unite in ef-
Republics; which mediation resulted. not
without long continued and patient effort,
in bringing about a meeting of the rep
resentatives Of the hostile powers on
board a United states warship as neu-
GUIDED; a peace which resulted in the
saving of thousands Of lives and in the
misery and the destruction of property
and or the means of livelihood The Rio
Conference passed the following resolution
in reference to this action:
That the third international American
of the United States. Of America and of
the United States of Mexico a note in
WHICH the conference Wh t.ee Is BENG helo
happy results of their mediation for the
celebration of peace between the Repub-
lies of Guatemala Honduras, and Saliva
This affords ar. 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
taken in concert with other American re-
publicS and therefore free from those sus-
picions and prejIdices' which might at
taeh if the action were taken by one
else a noweTf1Il influence toward the sub
stitution of considerates action in the spirit
fer.1affonal Violence which has hitherto
beer 50 great a hindrance to the devel-
opment Of many Of our neighbors Re
ne-a5 ~examDIess of united action BY sew
Of peace, by urging cool and reasonable,
instead of excited and belhgerent. treat
ment of international controversies, can
not fail to promote the growth of a gen
eral public opinion among the American
OF international action. strengthen the
sense of international duty among gov
of mankind.
Panama Trip.
have just returned from a trip to
Panama and shall report to you at length
later on the whole subject of the Panama
The Algeciras convention. which was
most of the powers of Europe. supersedes
the previous convention of 1850. which
states and a majority of the European
powers This treaty confers upon US
pean countries and does not entail a sim
gle obligation of any kind upon US, and
fed. To refuse to ratify it would merely
mean that we forfeited our commercial
IlSu1s III HoIocco anu MOsAu iot sSIlleNe t
another object OF any kind; In the event
of such refusal we would be left for the
first time in hundred and twenty years
rocco; and this at time when we are
everywhere seeking new markets and out
The destruction of the PribiIof Islands
fur seals by pelagfc sealing still con-
tinues The herd which, according to
the congress. numbered 100000 and
which, according to the survey of both
American and Canadian commissioners in
1891 amounted to 100000, has now been
reduced to about 10000 This result has
some other sealing vessels killing the fe-
male seals while in the water during their
annual pilgrimage to and from the south,
or in search of food. AS rule the fe-
male seal when killed is pregnant, and
also has an unweaned pup on land, so
that for each skin taken by pelagic seal
ing, rule. three lives are destroyed
nrnF nup the eR ff o star na the
death. No damage whatever is done to
ing on land; the custom m of peiagic seal
ing is solely responsible for all of the
from the economic standpoint and from
the standpoint OF humanity
In 1896 over 5000 young seals were
found dead from starvation on the Pri-
bilof Islands In 1897 it was estimated
Of 900 adult female seats had been
killed at sea, and over $4,000 young seals
had died Of starvation as the result The
we'll as the wasteful destruction which it
involves. need no demonstration and is
Tribunal which sat in Paris in 1898. and
which decided agaist the claims of the
United States to exclusive jurisdiction in
the waters of the Bering Sea and to a
property right in the fur seals when out
side of the three-mile limit determined
also upon certain regulations which the
Tribunal considered sufficient for the
proper protection and preservation of the
fur seal in, or habitually resorting to. the
Boring sea The tribunal by its regula-
tions established a close season: from
the 1st of May to the first of July, and
excluded all killing in the waters within
60 miles around the. Pribnof Islands.
They also provided that the regulations
which they had determined upon, with a
view to the protection and preservation Of
gears to new examination, to en-
able both interested governments to con-
slider whether in the light of past ex-
perience, 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
Britain such revision and modification of
the regulations as were contemplated and
provided for by the award of the tri-
The process of destruction has been ac-
CELEBRATED during recent years by the APP
pearance of a number of Japanese vessels
engaged in pelagic scaling AS these
vessels have not been bound even by the
Inadequate limitations prescribed by the
tribunal Of Paris, they have paid no at
tention either to the close season or to
the 60-mile limit imposed upon the Can
adams, and have prosecuted their work
up. TO the very islands themselves On
July 16 and II. the crews from several
japanese vessels made raids upon the is
land of St. Paul, and before they were
beaten off by the Verv meager and insult
ficiently armed guard. they succeeded in
killing several hundred seals and carrying
the seals killed were females and tie
work WIS done with frightful barbarIty-
Many OF the seals appear 10 nave beeH
skinned alive and many were found half
skinned and still alive The raids We're
repealed only by the use of firearms, and
FIVE of the raiders were killed. two were
wounded and twelve captured. including
the two wounded. Those captured have
since been tried and sentenced to imnris-
anment. An attack of this kind had been
wholly unlocked for. but such provision
of vessels arms. and ammunition will
row be made that its repetition will not
be found profitable
Better Protection for Seals
Suitable representations regarding the
incident have been made to the govern
ment of Japan. and we are assured that
all practicable measures will be taken by
t,af co1,rtrx~ n r1reVouf any recurrence