The San Francisco call., 1897-10-07
Bars Russia and Japan
From the Sealing
Conference.
Will Not Meet With RepreSan.
tatiVeS of Those Coun-
tries.
Her Action Due to Canadian OBJ
1ectionS - The News at
Washington.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

OAok1obNAA
LONDON, Eng, Oct 6.-The officials of
the British Foreign Office have communi-
Gated 10 the United States Embasssdor
Colonel John Hay, the final decision OF
that Government that Great Britain must
refuse to take part in any sealing confer
ence with representatives. OF Russia and
Japan. The British Government, how
ever, asserts its willingness TO confer with
the United States alone, but il insists that
Russia and Japan are not interested in the
Bering Sea seals TO degree entitling them
to representation at the conference.
The British Government does not sug-
gest any daie for a conference with the
United States, and it is thought probable
in London that Great Britain's with
drawal will result in two meetings-one
between the United States, Russia and
Japan and the other between the United
States, Great Britain and Canada.
1t cannot be too strongly reiterated
that he withdrawal of Great Britain from
the Washington conference is due to
Canada's insistence, and that until the
Canadian officials informed the Foreign
Office here OF Canada's objections TO meet
ing Russia and Japan, out of fear of being
OulFOl6Q, OESdl lull4 lulcuOSo ~
tend the conference with the other Govern
ments. But for Colunel Hays representa-
tions the first announcement of Great
Butain's unwillingness to take part III the
conference would have been hnal, but the
United States En- bassador 80 plainly
pointed out the uual character of
Great Britain's change OF mind at so late a
day that some of the Foreign Office off,
cials decided 10 reopen the question, and
hean enHoa I'M
fully, to secure Canada's acquiescence.
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British En-
bassador to the United States, also used
his influence in spirit of friendliness to
the United States efforts to secure the
adherence of Great Britain to the original
programme.
The diplomats here consider that Great
Britain's course was not courteous to
Russia and Japan.
Experts who have been investigating
sales of seaskins in London, in order to
obtain evidence for the use of the United
States at the conference, have proof that
so per cent of the skins sold by Canada n
sealers are females, and that most of thu
animals were shot
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Oct. Elm
quiry at the State Department confirms
the information from the British Foreign
Office that the British Government has
refused I o take part il any con ference in
which Russian and Japanese delegates
partic pate. Beyond this confirma ZION
the officials of the department decline to
discuss tAe question as to further progress
on the subject.
John w. Foster, ex-Secretary OF State,
who is in C arge OF the interests OF the
United States in the Bering Sea seal fish
cries matter, was asked about the state
ment that there would be two confer
ences-one between the United States and
Great Britain and the other between the
United States, Russia and Japan, and he
declined to discuss this point at the pres
ent time.
Hon. John w. Foster makes pubic the
names OF the following Delegates who are
TO represent the Russian Government at
the conference:
Councillor Martens of the Ministry OF
Foreign Affairs and professor of interna-
tionai law in the University of ST. Peters
burg; Court Councillor P. Bolkine of the
Ru sian diplomatic service, formerly at.
tached to the legation OF that country at
Washington, and Councillor of State
Grebitzky, Governor of the Commander
Islands.