Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-27
SEAL COME FERENCE
The Outlook is Far From Favor
able.
EFFECT OF ENGLAND'S OBJECTION
Negotiations on the Subject in
Progress.
eau SE OF THE HITCH

LONDON. September 21.-An announce
ment was made this afternoon confirming
the dispatches OF the Associated Press of
Saturday last that the Marquis OF Sails
bury has not withdrawn from the Bering
sea conference, bit has simply objected to
the presence Of Russia and Japan. Sego-
iiations on the subject are proceeding
Great Britain is willing to take part In
q he conference, and is endeavoring to Sc
cure the acquiescence of Canada. The Unit
ed States ambassador, Col. John Hay and
the British ambassador TO the United
states, Sir Julian Pauncefote, visited the
foreign office this afternoon. The whole
hitch seems to be due to the failure OF the
Marquis Of Salisbury 10 respond TO Colonel
Hays note of July ~, acknowledging the
Marquis of Salisbury's agreement to IA
meeting of experts" and in which Colonel
Hay stated that the President expected
Russian and Japanese representatives
would be present at the conference.
Exception being taken to this Col. HAY
concluded that the matter was settled, until
wednesday last. when an objection was
received from the British side, il being
pointed out that the Marquis Of Salisbury
never contemplated taking part in confer
ence at which Russia and Japan were
represented. having always contended, as
shown in his dispatch OF May q. that they
have no locus standi. 1t is also pointed out
that the Marquis of Salisbury's letter of
July - distinctly says that Great Britain
had agreed to a meeting of British Cana
dian and American experts.
The japanese minister here said 20 a
representative of the Associated Press to-
day:
while no formal concentrations have
passed between Japan and England. 1 have
discussed the arrangements for confer
ence with the foreign office officials
1t is a curious fact that Col. Hays dis
patch of July - is omitted from the Bering
sea blue book just issued.
State Department officials silent.
Although the officials Of the State De-
partment decline positively to discuss the
matter II is generally understood in diplo-
matte circles that they fully informed
of Great Britain's objection to the partici-
patton Of Russia and Japan in the proposed
conference in regard to the seal fisheries
Ex-Secreta-y Foster, who is acting as
the agent CT the United States in this mat
ter, says that no ofiiciai notice has been
received either from the British embassy
here or from Ambassador Hay at London
that Great Britain will not take part in the
conference IL Japan and Russia are to have
voice in the proceedings. Nevertheless
the report tc that effect coming from Lon
don finds general cre1ence here. Ii is ad-
mitted that although Great Britain knew
tiidt Japan ptcil
by the United States TO send representa-
tives to the conference she had never sig
nifed her approval Of the plan. On the
ether hand. she never formally dissented
to The proposed participation of the gov
ernments named until last week.
Engiand's Contention.
1t is understood that the British authori-
ties take the ground that what is TO be
done for the protection of the seal indus
try should be done jointly by the United
States and Great Britain in pursuance
with the rules and regulations adopted
by the arbitration tribunal OF Paris. Ger
tain regulations were prescribed by that
tribunal for the government Of the two
countries in the matter of the seal fish
cries for a period of five years. and the
British contention is that whatever re-
vision of the regulations is now necessary
to accomplish the desired results should
be made as a result Of a conference be-
tween the United States and Great Britain
alone. 1t is furthermore held that the
two countries named are better prepared to
handle this troublesome question, for the
reason that they have each conducted sep
arate scientific Investigations into all the
facts in dispute during the past summer.
something which IL is alleged has not
been done by either Japan or Russia. The
British idea is that the seal question is
one directly concerning the United States
and Great Britain. and into the discus
sion of which no other governments should
be invited unless IL is absolutely neces-
sary for a satisfactory settlement
One of the officials of the British gov
ornment is quoted saving that there
is special necessity for a conference
anyhow, for the reason that the United
States and Great Britain can reach
agIeen ent by correspondence provided the
experts of the two countries agree upon
the main qI estions of fact as TO seal life
made the subjects of special investigation
during the past season.
Delegates on Their Way.
The Representatives of Japan and Russia
are now on their way to Washington, and
are expected here within few weeks. Sir
Julian Pauncefote, the British ambassador,
who was TO have represented Great Britain
at the conference, is still in England. and
the last report is that he viii not leave
there for the United States before the
end of October. IL that is a fact, il will
certainly cause at least a delay in the
sembling of the conference, which was
originally fixed for the 18th of October.
Although there is no certainty on the sub
ject, the outlook is far from favorable for
a conference unless 1t shall be decided to
hold it without the participation of Great
Britain.
EngIand's Agreement.
Lord Salisbury in his letter of July -
to Ambassador Hay said regarding the con-
ference:
In reply I have to state that her majes-
ty's government are willing to agree TO a
meeting of experts nominated by Great
Britain and Canada and by the United
States in October next. when the further
Investigations to be made the islands
during the present season will have been
completed. The object of the meeting
would be to arrive. If possible, at COR
rect conclusions respecting the numbers,
conditions and habits OF the seals frequent
ing the Pribylof Islands at the present
time as compared with the several sea-
sons previous and subsequent to the Paris
award.
1T seems to her majesty's government
that Washington would be the most suita-
BILE place for such n meeting.
AGfirlfH IN lela