New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-19
HOPING TO SAVE THE SEALS
JOHN w. FOSTER STARTS ON HIS MIS-
SION ABROAD.
HE EXPECTS TO NEGOTIATE TREATY WIFE
RUSSIA WHICH WILL PUT STOP TO THE


Eoeter loft Washington tonight on an Important
diplomatic mission He goes from here 70 view
York and will sail Tomorrow FOR Engiaho. Fits'
a brief stay In that country he Will proceeo " ~
Petersburg having been appointed by the fresioeh'
| "to negotiate and conclude a treaty" with Russia
for the protection Of the fur seals In behrhs oe"
For this purpose General Foster has been invested
with the rank Of Special Ambassador
II was said In these dispatches few days ago
that the ex-Secrctary had been intrusted by the
President with the settlement OF the vexeu seal
question and that he had received iui' power 10
act. Since then some negotiations have been car
ried on with Great Britain looking to an arrange
ment under which fuller protection to the seals
would be insured. For one thing, 1t was propose1
that the modus vIvendl formerly In force should
be renewed Great Britain has declined 10 agree
20 this but she has consented to further investi-
CATION by scientists Of the claim OF this country
that peIagc sealing is making such serious nroads
into the herd that there is danger of the early ex-
tnction OF seal life. The reason for Great Britain
decision Is well understood among officials mere
Her policy is that of procrastination ana instead
Of facing the question at Issue squarey. she pro-
poses that the Canadian sea,ers shall nave AT ieaS'
one moro profitable season in Behrng Sea
NOTHING EXPECTED FROM ENGLAND.
Seemingly the President has abandoned the hope
OF inducing Great Britain to consent to an agree
ment through treaty or otherwise. which Will
guard against the ruthless slaughter OF the sea-
herd Realizing that some immediate steps must
be taken to protect the seals from pe!agic huh'-
ers and believing that Russia is anxious and as
much interested in the matter as Is this country
ex Secretary Foster goes to 81. petersburg as
special Ambassador to negotiate treaty with the
Cars Government n the United States and Kus-
STA join hands and General Foster DeheVes 'hey
will Behrlng Sea will become practically c'osea
sea- Russia has already made propositions TO TINS
country looking material Increase In the extent
oh he
killing of fur seals during certain months OF the
year is prohibited. In the course OF the last TWO
years the State Department. the Foreign once AT
St Petersburg and the Russian Minister IN WASH
ington have been in correspondence on the question
For more than two weeks General Foster has heen
going over all official matter in the State Depart
ment devoting special attention to what Russia has
said He will remain in London only short time
During his stay there he will make final EFFORT 10
induce the British Government to enter into some
agreement looking to the better protection or the
seals His instr lotions only carry with them let
ter Of credence TO England II is evident therefore,
that the President does not expect that any formal
negotiations will be concluded When special dipo-
matte agents OF this country are counted upon 10
draw I'D treaties compacts they receive not only
letters credence, but letters OF authority which
contain what is known in diplomacy as power to
act"
FAVORABLE SENTIMENT IN ST. PETERSBURG
The Importance Of having Russia join this country
in an arrangement TO protect the seal herd Is APP
parent. The files OF the State Department contain
letters showing that the Cars Government looks
with favor upon such a treaty. In answer to let
ter from the Secretary OF State the Russian Minister
in Washington wrote some time ago that PROPOSE
ton from this country had been submitted to a
special commission at ST. Petersburg, and that the
commission had reported that 1t recognized the ne
cessity Of a uniform control Of sea-huntlng. The
IL zl,o Ir.u
up providing a uniform system for all the northern
portion of the Pacific Ocean from the coasts OF
America to Asia. The letter from the Russian Min
lister to the Secretary Of State says further:
While accepting, in principle the suggestion con-
corning the appointment OF the aforesaid commits
sion. the Imperial Government attaches much
greater importance to the .modus ylyendi,' Where.
Paris are 70 be enforced in all the Pacific
Ocean situated north of the thirtyhfth parallel Of
spIr Il Of equity Which actuates the Federal Govern
ment does not permit to doubt that Your FIX
state Of things in which the decisions of the Trb-
unal of Arbitration a; Paris enforced only In the
the western part OF the same being thus de-
prived OF this protection, should no longer exist In
in Behring Sea are paralyzed and productive OF no
results from the very fact that the western part is
IN ordering me to convey Its thanks to the Federal
Government for the kind communication which ii
has been pleased TO make to It, the Imperial Govern
ment instructs me to assure Your Excellency of its
earnest desire 10 cooperate in the success of the
tending 10 establish uniform regime for the regu-
lation Of fur seal hunting the high seas in all
parts or the PACING ocean north OF the hirty-hfth
parallel of north latitude.
THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENTS VIEWS.
Subsequently 1t was proposed that the United
States. Russia. Great Britain and Japan appoint
mixed commission to consider the seal question
Russia then submitted brief memorandum to
the Secretary of State on the suggestion. in which
he To- tod or,
memorandum roads as follows
Gar prn ,Idp object Wiz to put stop to the
technical mixed commission. but by the convoca,
cIsions should be Obligatory upon all nato He
Otherwise there is reason to fear that Illicit fur
flags. ~ '''''s'
The representative Of the Ministry of Finance has
mace the following remarks concerning the en-
Paris:
regulations which prohibits fur-seai hunting at ali
% hs Tis sands Of should sS
be mSded IN such wax as to extend the
the Commander Islands and Fueniew (Robbin Isl
e Bens aa ire n ac the
Ocean fIr,seal hunting with firearms should be
as far as 30 degrees north latitude along the Kour.
isky and Commander Islands and the coasts of
ThlrdrAs the fur seals that winter on the Rus
sian lsIands leave their winter lairs earlier than
those on the Prbylofr Islands, the time during
which sealing the high seas is prohibited should
be made to last for the former not until Nav l. but
until March J. or. strictly spsaking until Aprl 1
All these measures relate exclusively to fur-seai
hunting on the high seas. since hunting on land
In Russian territory viz. the Comma nder IsI-
ands and Fulenew is under strict inspection and
the number OF seals allowed to he killed is strictly
limited. " 0'''
State Department officials feel confident that
General Fosters commission to ST. PetersbI,rr viii
be productive OF much good They expect thai T'a'
conclusion OF treaty with Russia will result and
that Russia and the United States will act in
friendly concert looking to the protection OF the
seal herd. - '
General Fosters authority from tho presder,
permits him to conclude a treaty with Janan aiso
This part OF his duty the ex-secreary will give at.
tention to upon his return home In August IL
II understood that correspondence has been oncned
with Japan, and that In August General Foster
and the Japanese Minister TO Washington viii
further consider the subject. "
General John w. Foster the Special Ambassador
In charge OF negotiations concerning the seal fish
| l.. IL