The record-union., 1897-11-18
Further Than an Inevitable Delay in Settle
ment Of the Seal Question.
What Concessions Should be Made
to Canada a Question Not Dis
posed OF, but Continuing Un-
der Discussion-The Agreement
of the Experts Upon a Report
as to the Condition of the Herds
ton.

WASHINGTON, Nov 1.-THE offic.
ers of the State Department were very
much surprised at the results of the
total failure of the Canadian negotia-
tionS which appeared to-day in several
newspapers. One of them said: THAT
view is not takel by the Government
in Washington. The representatives OF
the Canadians who have just left the
city did not come to Washington with
any expectation of concluding any ar
rangement or treaty during their brief
stay. They entertained views Upon
the question of the sealing regulations,
and hoped to acquire accurate infor-
nation as to the views of our Govern
ment 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 favorab BILE Influences prevailing the
seal experts agreed upon report. This
report Will furnish a good basis for
further action. 1t goes without saying
that Canada is not disposed to make
concession upon the seals without some
consideration to Canada. What such
reciprocal concession or concessions
should be is a question not yet dis
posed of, but continuing under discus
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 receiv-
ed, frankly talked with and participated
in a free and frank discussion.
The official added: IF ever irritat-
ing questions can be removed between
the two countries they can be disposed
of under the administrations now
charged with the conduct 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 supposing that
no arrangement is arrived at between
the United States and Great Britain for
further measures of protection. In
the absence of an official statement on
the subject. an answer appears to be
afforded by the language of award
made by the Paris arbitrations, that
body having in terms decided that the
United States had no right of protection
or property in the fur seals in Behring
Sea beyond the three mile limit from
the shores Of the seal islands. and laid
down a set of regulations for the con-
ditions of both parties to the agree
ment, prescribing the conditions under
which seals might be taken in the wat
ers of the North Pacific and Behring
Sea-
These are the regulations that gov
eIn to-day, enlarged as they have been
by mutual agreement 1t is provided
in the awards as follows:
.'The concurrent regulations hereby
determined, with a view to the protec-
ton and preservation of the fur seals
shall remain in force until they have
been in whole or in part abolished or
modified by common agreement be-
tween the Governments Of the United
States and of Great Britain. The said
concurrent regulations shall be sub
mitted every five years to a new ex-
animation, so as to enable both inter-
ested Governments to consider whether
in the light of past experience. there
is occasion for any modification there
of"
This first term of five years expires
about the time the seal season closes
next year, and a fair assumption from
the language of the awards that falling
an agreement on further regulations.
those in force will continue to run.