Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-04-04
NORWAY.

It was stated in these. columns a
short time ago that Prof. Elliott Of
Cleveland, Ohio, declared before a con-
gressional committee that Herby H.
D. Peirce u. S. minister to Norway,
had done something wrong by pleading
the cause of private parties before The
Hague tribunal while being himself
officially connected with that tribunal.
Mr.. PIERCE, who arrived in Boston a
few days ago, has explained that mat
ter in an interview, which reads in
part as follows: 1.-THE dispute between
the Russian government and the
American sealing vessels occurred
while I was charge d'affaires at The
Hague in 1894 and 1901, and as the
United States government representa-
tive there during the seven years of
the controversy I was thoroughly con-
versant with the matter. One Of tho
vessels was a New Bedford whaling
bark owned by Wing & Co., and there
were besides three schooners, one of
which was owned by the Eagle COM
pany Of San Francisco. They finally
asked me to act as their counsel in
the matter and I Immediately wrote to
washington asking for permission to
act as counsel for the American ship
owners for a stipulated remuneration,
which the ship owners and /, had
agreed upon. The state department at
once wired permission for me to act
as counsel for pay. The Russian gov
eminent, however, refused to submit
the matter to arbitration unless they
| could treat with an official United
States government representative, and
about this phase I also wrote the state
department at washington. Again the
department gave me permission to act
in an official capacity and thus I was
| in a double role, as the United States
representative and as paid counsel for
| the fishing vessels. I won the case for
| the ship owners and secured for them
| damages from the Russian govern
| ment for the loss Of time during the
detention. When I tried to get my fee
as counsel for the ship owners, upon
which I had a written agreement, I
| found that they had taken the case
from without the jurisdiction Of the
District Of Columbia to San Francisco
| accordingly brought suit. That is
the sum and substance Of the whole
affair."" In concluding the interview,
Mr.. Peirce said that it seemed hardly
just that objection should be made to
| a. United States representative abroad
taking an offered opportunity with the
sanction Of the state department to
earn. "a little money on the stde,", es-
pecially when he personally was spend
ing four times the salary he received
TO keep up the standing Of the Ameri-
can foreign department in diplomatic
circles. ,-.5
The Habil, a Norwegian fruit
steamer operating between New Or
leans and Honduran ports, was seized
by Honduran troops. The seizure took
place on the morning Of March II,
while the vessel was at Ceiba taking
on q cargo Of bananas. The troops
were assembled on the water front by
the commandant Of the port and 300
strong they marched on board and
took charge Of the vessel. The Nor
wegian flag was hauled down and for
six hours the soldiers were in control
AS the vessel was preparing to leave
for Puerto Cortez an order came from
President Bonilla releasing the vessel
The object OF Bonilla was to take the
trnons from Cedba to Trujillo.