The herald., 1897-11-18
Take Their Departure for
Home
REPORT IN CIRCULATION
THAT THEIR MISSION WAS A
FAILURE
The State Department officials Take
More Hopeful View Of
the Situation
Associated Press Special Wire.


| WASHINGTON. Nov. 1.-THE officers
of the state department were very much
surprised at the reports of the total
failure Of the Canadian negotiations
which appeared today in several news
papers. One of them said that view ia
not taken by the government in Wash
ington. The representatives of the Cam
adams, who have just left this city, did
not come to Washington with any ex-
pectation of concluding any arrange
ment or treaty during their brief stay.
They entertained views upon the ques-
tion of the sealings regulations and
hoped to acquire accurate information
as to the views Of ovr government upon
the remaining questions. which their
preceding government in Canada had
failed to adjust. The only fact correctly
stated in the publications referred to is
that under the favorable influences pre-
vailing the seal experts agreed upon a
report. This report will furnish a good
basis for further action. 1t goes with
out saying that Canada is not disposed
to make concession upon the scala
without some consideration to Canada.
What such reciprocal concession or con.
cessions should be is question not yet
disposed of. but continues under discuss
sion. There has not been the slightest
check to the negotiations further than
the inevitable delay in the settlement of
the sealing question. The Canadian
representatives, were Hospitality re.
ceived, frankly talked with and partici-
pated in free and frank discussion.
The official added: IF ever irritating
questions can be removed between the
two countries they can be disposed Of
under the administrations now charged
with thesconduct of affairs in the United
States and in Canada"
Some interest naturally attaches to
the conditions that will govern the seal
hunters in the future, supposng that no
arrangement is arrived at between the
United States and Great Britain for fur
ther measures of protection. In the abb
sence of an official statement on the
subject an answer appears to be afforded
by the language of award made by the
Paris arbitration, that body having in
terms decided that the United States
had no right of protection or property in
the fur seals in Bering sea beyond the
three mile limit from the shores of the
seal islands, and laid down set of regu-
lations for the guidance Of both parties
to the agreement, prescribing the con-
ditions under which seals might be
taken in the waters of the North Pacific
and Bering sea.
These are the regulations that govern
today, enlarged as they have been by
mutual agreement. 1t is provided in the
awards as follows 1.-THE concurrent
regulations hereby determined with
view to the protection and preservation
Of the fur seals shall remain in force
until they have been in whole or in part
abolished or modified by common agree
ment between the governments Of the
UNITED States and of Great Britain. Tho
said concurrent regulations shall be SUBJ
mitted every five years to new exam
ination, SO as to enable both interested
governments to consider whether in the
light of past experience there is occa-
sion for any modification thereof"
This first term Of five years expires
about the time the seal season closes
next year, and fair assumption from
the language of the awards Is that, fall
ing an agreement on further regula-
tions, those in force will continue to run,
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Sir Louis and
Lady Davis, and the other Canadian Of
flcials, took their departure at 10 o'clock
this morning. General Foster called
upon them before their departure, but
the meeting was not of business char
acter Cordial sentiments were re-
newed on parting, and the sentiment was
expressed that the negotiations now In
progress might yet have a happy con-
summation for both countries.