The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1892-02-15
Exceedingly Busy Times at the state
Department Nova
days.
Canadian Reciprocity and the Beh.
ring Sea Question Both I'm.
der Discussion.
The Former Measure VIII Probably
Come to Naug.it-Nothing
to Trade On.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Is. These are
busy times at the state department. In
room along the end of the main cor
ridor are the agents of the United States
and Great Britain, who have been des-
ignated to investigate the condition of
the Behring sea fur seal industry and
make q report to be represented to the
board of arbitration provided for by the
treaty now waiting Lord Salisbury's
approval before being presented to the
United States senate for final action.
In the diplomatic parlor at the other
end are the self-invited Canadian COM
missioners, here to discuss reciprocity
treaty with the United States and Sec
retary Blaine and Gen. j. w. Foster,
who represents the interests of the Unit
ed States. The two bodies are i'm session
every day for from two to three hours,
and it is not strange that with all the
varied interests at stake and the in
huences at work to guide and control
them that numerous more or less fanci-
full stories are in circulation respecting
the progress of their proceedings and
the attitude of the members Of the
bodies.
4 .Behripg Sea Commissioners.
b The Behring sea agents met infor-
mally one day last week and separated
to meet Thursday and organize. This
was accomplished and session of three
hours ensued. Another session Of equal
length was held Friday, and they will,
it is now expected. continue to meet
every day until they reach an agree
ment or conclude they cannot agree.
The discussion will probably extend
over several weeks. Reports that the
agents have not yet met formally are
therefore not sustained by the facts. As
to other stories that the reports OF
agents have not been published, but for
some occult reason are held back by the
state department, although the British
agents are anxious to have them made
public, an official of the state
department says the occult
reason is none other than
that the representatives are not in ex-
istence, at least that agents of the
United States is not and win not be
after the conference shall have closed.
The object of the conference is to learn
whether or not report can be agreed
upon for presentation to the arbitrators
--if not, then the agents of the United
States viii prepare their case for the
arbitrators and presumably those of
Great Britain and Canada will do the
same thing for their side.
Not Likely to Agree.
Considerable progress has been made
toward conclusion of the conference be-
tween the reciprocity commissioners of
Canada and Secretary Blaine and Gen.
eral Foster. AS has been predicted, it
is unlikely that any agreement will be
reached. There is little if any support
in congress for a movement of this sort,
the opinion held there being that Canada
must come into the Union il she wants
to participate in the commercial advan-
tages it possesses. Reciprocity, which
nas become popular, is based upon the
free import of five articles sugar, tea,
coffee, molasses and hides. OF these,
Canada produces only hides, and the
extent of her business is not believed to
be sufficient to tempt the United States
to open up to her all the advantages of
it's markets for that one article. The
Canadian commissioners will, ii is un-
derstood, be ready to return in few
days to Ottawa.