New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-02
TO STOP PELAGIC SEALlN"'
A TREATY LIKELY TO BE SIGNED ~
ING THIS WEEK

~. THE LINES OF THE PRoroslTIoN
.,nr,nv r,voEAp1,Y ooSsIpERED-THE
ATTITUDE OF GREAT BRITAIN
svxcr o,, cASApNs EXPERT
,,x >ov. lit is expected that
~ convention between the Onited states
,,,.reio o,d rapan will be formally signed anu
.,.a @, the state Department uu''ns t"e
.o-ort week. carrying out the propos'"o" oe
20 the Behring Sea Conference 'o'
ioie Wv ~ ne,agic sealing. The present under
..a,djng is that the signing Oh INNS W.
,m occ,r within the next few days IL VIII
W." o,t ,bo con,pleted efforts Of the confer
ence and. with the signing conc'"uV'' '' ~
ference will adjourn
r,o EARNS Of the treaty or convention VIII
,,,,ovy the lines Of the proposition considered
,y tho conference and referred with favoraoe
recommendation to the authorities at ST PETERS
burg and Toxic No double existed as TO the ac-
ceptance of the Russian authorities, ana IL can
now be stated positively that the japanese
Government has approved the proposluoh anu
that the japanese delegates are prepared u
place their signatures 10 the treaty. Ihls clears
away all obstacles. and little remains 10 I've
done beyond the formaities attending the sign
Ing OF such an instrument.
The essential feature of the treaty or conVen-
ton is the provision for the suspension oi Pei"-
81, sealing for such period will permit the
seal herd 10 revive. The Ieriod or this sus-
pension is not disclosed. one report is that 1t
will be one year. subject to extension Ano'her
is that it will cover a terms Of years But 'he
exact duration of the suspension cannot be
verified.
All that can be learned with dehniteness IS
that the treaty Is expected 10 be executed DUR
ing the present week and that II will be on the
lines Of the original proposition before the con-
ference for a suspension Of pelagic sealing
The attitude which Great Britain will assume
toward the proposition, and the treaty whlch
is to take its place. is awaited with much III
terest Thus far the British authorities have
not been informed as to what the conference
proposes doing. At ths same time, the BRUSH
expert Professor Darcy Thompson, has hao
several long talks with Mr. Foster ana Mr'
Hamlin, and these have been OF sucn satIs-
factory nature that il was believed that an
amicable understanding would De reacheu ID!
all parties concerned II Canada sho"fu 20, Can-
position TO assent TO the agreement but NaN
ada still stands in the way, and the continued
absence of the Canadian expert Mr.. Macoun'
is regarded in the light of diplomatic DIS
TO the British Government. The Foreign once
named him, with Professor Thompson. as an
expert TO come to Washington. frolessor
THOMPSON came at once but Mr.. Macoun mas
remained away The Ottawa Government mas
sent no explanation OF this action ana appdI
emily was obliviOus TO all inquiries. IL Is
thought that the presence OF Mr.. Hamlin as the
American expert in the British American meet
ing may pe the cause of Canada's inaction.
Lord Salisbury specifically stated in accept
ing the proposition for meeting, that II was
to be one between experts. To TINS Emu IN. .le
British expert. Thompson. ana the Cahau.at C, a.,
expert Macoun, We're named. IL beins eHleCteu
that the United States would meme It's expert
professor Jordan. Mr. Hann was named nov"
ever and ~ 10 understood that this Is viewed
rather in the light Of naming counsellor or
diplomat as the United States representative,
rather than an expert. While no official objec-
ton has been made to the appointment II Is
believed to account In part for Canadas delay
in sending her expert 10 Washington.
No mention is made in the convention OF the
killing Of seals in case Great Britain and Can
ada do not cooperate. IT Is pointed out that
Russia and Japan could not adopt retaliatory
steps against Canada. they have no border
interests with her. Any action against Canada.
therefore, must be taken by the United states
alone The plan of killing the seals has been
embodied in bills now before Congress. but II
has not come before the conference as a step
now 10 be taken by the allied Powers.
Mr. Foster gave reception tonight TO the
Russian. japanese and British delegates and
experts. Professor Thompson was present but
the British Embassy officials were not repre-
sented owing to the month Of mourning i'm
posed by the death OF the Duchess OF Teck