The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-30
NO TRAP Sprung ON ENGLAND.
Fully Understood Russia and Japan
Would Join Seal Conference.

NEW YORK, Sept. "a dispatch 20
me Tribune from London says: The
Englsn press. IN discussing the hitch
Whicn has arisen in the negotiations for
the seal conference. assumes that the idea
or inviting Russia and Japan was an aft
ertnought on tho part of the Washington
government The state department is
charged with attempting to enlarge the
inquiry by drawing Russia and Japan INTO
IL, when Lord Salisbury had specifically
agreed TO conference restricted to an ex-
change OF views among the American,
British and Canadian experts.
These assumptions are entirely without
foundation. When Mr.. Foster returned
from ST. Petersburg last summer Russia
had agreed 10 a conference. Before Lord
Salisbury wrote his dispatch on July 3
there had been several conferences at the
foreign Office and the desire of the state
department that both Russia and Japan
should be included was plainly indicated.
The Russian ambassador in London had
an interview with Lord Salisbury on the
subject: Mr.. Foster had a conference with
Mr.. Chamberlain and Sir Wilfred Lau-
rier, In which the scope Of the proposed
meeting was fully discussed. The Japan
ese minister also interested himself in the
question For month preceding July
no secret was made of the fact that the
United States government had invited
Russia and Japan TO take part in the con-
ferences and was anxious TO have Great
Britain and Canada cooperate. The as
sumption OF certain English journals that
the proposal to include Russia and Japan
was an afterthought for the sake OF en-
trapping Great Britain and Canada into a
conference In which they would be out
voted is as baseless as the fantastic idea
that American diplomacy has devised a
fresh expedient for giving the lions tail
a twist
The truth is that the master of the for
eign Office understood perfectly the broad
scope of the conference TO which England
had been invited along with Russia and
Japan but accepted the proposal in a
guarded way, 50 that he could object to
the presence Of representatives Of those
powers IL he chose to do so. Ambassador
Hay was however, equal to the emer
gency. for In a perfectly courteous letter
Of Acknowledgement dated July % he re-
minded Lord Salisbury that. as had been
intimated all along the Russian and Jap
anese representatives would attend the
conference.
When Lord Salisbury decided. in Sep
tomber, to object to the presence Of these
representatives. 1t was because pressure
had been brought to bear upon him from
Canada. and not because there had been
any afterthought or Yankee trick at
Washington. as !il-informed critics here
hastily assume Lord Salisbury left the
bridge open for his retreat, but II is not
foregone conclusion that he will cross 1t
and break up TIE conference. On the con-
trary, ii is probable that an International
meeting will be arranged.
It is understood in diplomatic circles
that the latest communications from Sec
rotary Sherman on the subject have been
feiicitousiy phrased and have produced
an excellent effect at the foreign office.
What was needed was tact. and II has not
been lacking England and Canada Will
probably be left at liberty to send dele
gates to the conference. with the under
standing that they cannot be outFcted or
committed to any definite policy and that
they can retire from 1t whenever they
choose TO do 30. The conference Will be
purely cons Iltative. II VIII supply
scientific information. which viii be use
full In determining the general question
of the best measures requisite for the pr~o~
lection OF the last fur seal herd on the
face Of the waters. II will have no bind
ing force upon any nation represented.
The attitude OF the American govern
ment Is so reasonable that II Is probable
the conference viii be held on the original
line after the foreign office has provided
seeouate evidence for future publcaoon
In bluebooks that II has not been coerced
or builied or entrapped by the sly. wicked
limoges IN America