The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-13

opening of the Bering sea question has
undergone some modification, and that
whereas some weeks ago 1t was believed
Lord salisbury was averse to the question
being discussed until the date arranged by
the Paris award-namely, next year-at the
present moment there is a disposition &c
discuss matters now. Inquiry at the For
eign Office fails to elicit what this change
exactly is. The greatest reticence is dis
played in the matter also at the American
embassy, the officials declining TO discuss
General John w Foster, who is now in
st. Petersburg, is expected back in London
on July l. He did not call at the Foreign
Office during the few days he was in Lon
don, but he had conferences with Colonel
Hay, and on the day previous to ms de-
parture he had an interview of nearly an
hour with Mr.. Leber, of the North Amer1-
can Commercial Company, who has been IN
communication with the embassy during
Mr.. Bayard's term of office, regarding the
false statements alleged to have been MADE
by Canadian sealerS respecting the sex OF
their catch. During the interview Mr.. FosT
ter asked as to the propositions ne was
to lay before the Russian government, re-
piled that he would not know until he got
to St. Petersburg. Mr. Foster was informed
by Mr.. Lleber that mis- going TO Russia ana
any arrangements he might make there
would not be binding on England, as Great
Britain, so far as he could learns would
do nothing in the matter until the five
years specified by the Paris award had ex-
pired. The Canadians, moreover, said Mr..
Lieber although they made no money out
the business, would not be satisfied TO give
in unless they got compensation.
Mr. Lieber then said to Mr.. Foster; II
will be very willing, personally, to pay the
Canadians any profit they have made DUR
ing the past three years and Will furnish
very good security for the amount, provided
the governments concerned Will satisfy the
Canadians in the way of buying their yes
Would they be satisfied" remarked Mr..
Mr.. Lieber replied: u have seen here
Leopold Boscowitz, son Of Joseph Bos-
of a
having large interests, and he said to me:
I assure you if we be compensated for
our vessels the question, can 3 be settled IN
tinued, . Have you authority to speak Tor
any one besides yourself? to which Mr.
Boscowitz said: All the Canadians will be
very glad to be bought out I suppose you
will expect a very large profit said !, to
which reply was made: No, as the bust
ness has not been very profitable, we snail
be glad to get out of it.
Mr.. Lieber having recounted this to Mr..
Foster, .the latter replied Even ii such a
proposal were made l doubt very much II
the United States would ever vote money
for such a purpose.
Mr.. Lieber said in answer: 81 do not
think there is any other way of settling
that matter. On the one side we have the
ownership of property and the other side
have legally the right to destroy 1t. Unless
the parties interested can be compensated
in some way by receiving part of the profits
or by being bought out it cannot be set
tied AS far as the North American COM
pany is concerned we do not care either
way. But if we get no seals we cannot be
expected to pay our subsidy to the United
States government
Mr.. Lieber further told Mr.. Foster that
he had received from his own people on the
islands early this month reports showing
that seals were much scarcer than ever,
and that the take this year will only be
a third of last years. This Mr.. Foster said
he knew perfectly and added that he under
stood the Canadians were not making any
money.
The Russian agent who has been in Lon
don trying to find out whether there is any
truth in the assertion that large per-
centage of the pelagic skins lying in Lon
don are females found that about 50 per
cent. of them were females. He has been
summoned to return to Russia.