New York passed a similar law last year, but the Governor refused to
sign it, because the Forest Commissioners did not approve of it.
* * * * *
We told you last week that President McKinley was anxious to withhold
the letters that had passed between this country and England in
reference to the seal question.
Unfortunately his wishes have been thwarted by the publication of Mr.
Sherman's letter to Ambassador Hay.
It is a great pity that this letter found its way into print, for it is
most unfriendly in its tone.
It accuses Great Britain of bad faith in her method of carrying out the
terms of the Paris treaty. It declares that at the end of the first year
the United States discovered that the provisions of the Paris treaty
were not sufficient for the protection of the seals, and that this
Government immediately asked England to call a conference and reconsider
the matter.
Great Britain put off replying to this request for three years, and now,
after all this delay, says that there is nothing to show that seal life
is in danger.
Mr. Sherman, in his letter, complains that the English Prime Minister
bases his refusal on the report of an English scientist named Prof.
D'Arcy Thompson. This report Secretary Sherman declares to be so greatly
at variance with the reports of Dr. David Starr Jordan and the many
observations made by other distinguished naturalists, that he insists
that it is not a reliable document, but merely written to suit the
political situation.
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