HC Deb 18 August 1893 vol 16 cc518-9
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Behring Sea Award imposes upon Great Britain the obligation to forbid pelagic sealing by British subjects at any time whatever on the high seas within a zone of 60 sea miles round the American sealing grounds on the Priby- loff Islands, and also to forbid the use by British subjects of nets, firearms, or explosives, or the employment of any vessels other than sailing vessels in pelagic sealing, at all times and in all waters whatever of the Behring Sea, and further to forbid all pelagic sealing of any kind in the Behring Sea during the months of May, June, and July; whether it is the fact that, while the Award imposes these obligations on Great Britain as regards sealing on the high seas, it imposes no obligation whatever on the United States to forbid, restrict, or regulate sealing on land at any time; and whether the effect of the Award is to give a practical monopoly of sealing to the subjects of the United States, while depriving British subjects of any share therein?

SIR E. GREY

The prohibited zone round the Islands, and the nature of the prohibition as to the use of nets, firearms, or explosives, or of other than sailing vessels seem to be correctly stated, as also the close season during which sealing is prohibited; but Article 2 of the Award applies only to that part of Behring Sea which lies to the east of the line laid down in the Treaty between Russia and the United States of 1867. The Award imposes the obligations in question both on Great Britain and the United States as regards sealing on the high seas. It imposes no obligations either on Great Britain or the United States as regards scaling on laud or in territorial waters. But the Arbitrators have in a separate Paper recommended that regulations should be made for this purpose. It is not considered that the effect of the Award is such as is described in the last paragraph of the question.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Is it not a fact that British subjects are deprived of any share in the sealing? What share, if any, have they left?

SIR E. GREY

I expressly stated that the statement in the last part of the question that they are deprived of any share in the sealing does not accord with our opinion of the Award.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Precisely; but what share have they left?

SIR E. GREY

Certain restrictions, but not total prohibition, are laid down.