The evening times., 1897-06-08

John W. Foster mission abroad as a spe-
Cial commissioner of the United States in
cludes not only the negotiation OF a mOdUs
vivendi with Great Britain for the protection
of the sealsin Bering Sea, but also the meme
Gotiation of similar treaties with Russia and
Japan.
Mr.. Foster has failed as far as Great Brit
ain is concerned. This was expected, but he
has other cards to play which the Admins
tration believes will ultimately result in the
Queens government reconsidering its de
csion not 10 negotiate another modus vi
vendi.
Negotiations were begun between Mr. Fos-
before the former started on his foreign mis-
sion They resulted in a note from the Brit
ish government, declining gtoenteTintOan new
agreement, on the ground that the report
made by its expert failed to show the de-
crease represented by the American expert
who investigated the conditioned seal life III
Bcring Sea, and also because such an agree
ment would work injury TO Canadianinter
ests in the North Pacific.
Not deferred by this refusal, Mr Foster
started fer Londun, thinking that personal
representations to the British foreign office
might bring about different result A few
other steps would be necessary 70 accom-
plisii his purpose. He accordingly started for
st. Petersburg, where he expects 70 receive
the signature OF the Russian authorities and
the Japanese eIninisterstatiOned at hat place
10 an ins, fument Jointly finding the United
States. Russia ana Japan to IN agreement
for closing BcTiH-, Sea f)r certain number
ug years. So carefully have tie plans been
prepared for these negotiations in st. Pc
tersbuTg that the American authorities nave
scarcely any coubt Of their adOptDn-
In pun sIanceof arrangements madr tefore
Mr. Foster left here MI Dc kOtzebue, Rus
sian minister 10 the United States. has gone
to 81 Petersburg 10 pave the way for set ur-
ing Russia ScouSent TO mOdus viveudi, and
the japanese government has, in accordance
with negotiations begun through the Japan
ese legation here, instructed its min ! u
st. Petersburg to meet ana confer with MI.
Foster, together with the Russian authIri-
ties, in regard 20 the proposed treaty.
The violent opposition Of the Russian gov
eminent To the AnglO-American arbitration
treaty at one time seriously threatened the
project OF the Administ ration Win regard
to the seal protection convention. and while
that treaty was pending In the Senate the
State Department considered that any at
tempt 10 secure the Russian governments
consent 10 d BerIng Sea convention would
be futile The rejection OF the arbitration
treaty. however completely changed the
attitude Of the Russian government, and the
authorities found no difficulty in securing
the hearty cooperation o + the Russian min
lister in the project which Mr. Foster mas un-
dertaken.
Armed with a joint convention binding
Russia, Japan and the United states to an
agreement declaring Beriug Sea closed 10
sealrrs fol a certain length Of time. Sir.
Foster viii return to England and again re-
new his efforts Uowa ri securing Lord : ais
bury's signature To- the instrument He ex-
poets to be back in London about the time
Of the Queens jubilee
With an agreement once reached between
Russia Japan andth United states the au
thorlJies believe that Great Britain VII
finally. though perhaps reluctantly, consent
to Join the compact. The proposed mOdus
v1vendi is not intended To take effect until
the sealing season begins in S9S.