The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-14
NOT WITHOUT RESULT
MISSION OF CANADIANS TO WASH
INGTON MAY BEAR FRUIT.
Sources of Irritation Between This
Country and Canada May BE Re-
mOved-PIea of Postmaster.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13--While the plans
of the Canadian contingent in Washington
I'm connection with the seal conference are
not finally fixed. it is the present expecta-
ton that Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the premier
with Sir Louis Davies and his personal fol-
lowing, will leave Washington on their re-
turn home Monday or Tuesday The ex-
perts on seal life for England and Canada,
Messrs. Thompson and Maeoun, however
will remain here for a time pursuing the
conferences in which they are now engaged
with the United. States experts. They will
resume their sessions Monday
Something of the view taken of this Ca
madam mission by our government perhaps
may be gathered by the following utterance
of a high administration official, who has
had dealings with the Canadian premier:
sir Wilfrd Laurier has not only been
received by the government with great con-
sideration. but has made an excellent i'm
preston upon all the gentlemen with whom
he has come in contact AS a staunch Ca
madam statesman he naturally demands con-
cession for concession. AT the same time
he has shown a liberal spirit towards the
plan of increasing the commercial inter-
course of the two countries, and if he meets
the views of the United States half way
there is very fair chance of removing
from the present field of view the most i'm
portant questions which have produced so
much irritation between the two countries
during the preceding period of 'Conserva-
tive administration in Canada.
The statement was made to-day that the
present visit of Sir Wilfrid Laurier and
Sir Louis Davies was arranged at London
during the Queens jubilee, when confer
ences were held between Lord Salisbury
Mr.. Chamberlain. secretary of state for the
colonies. and the Canadian officials. Gen.
Foster, the American seal commissioner
in London at the time and was ap-
prised of the proposed visit and of the sane
ton of the London authorities. This state
ment was called out by the Misrepresentation
as to the official character of the present
visit. The Canadian visitors have been an
nOyed at reports telegIaphed to Canada to
the effect that the visit was arranged by a
private gentleman of Toronto, who was in
Washington recently When this report
was called to the attention of Sir Louis Da-
vieS he laughingly stated that it doubtless
was inspired by desire to prejudice and
belittle the present visit in the eyes of the
Canadian people. Without rejecting on
this gentleman personally it was stated
that he had no part in bringing about the
visit, and that the entire arrangement had
been made in London during the jubilee.
That plan, it was stated, referred only to
the Bering sea meeting, and the present
visit was official only in relation to that
one question. AT the same time the visit
afforded the opportunity for an unofficial
exchange of views on all the various ques-
tOns affecting the relations between the
United States and Canada. These problems
are more or less interviewer with the Boring
sea question, and the consideration of one
involves to some extent the discussion of
all of them. The desire was, therefore, to
give the views of the Canadian officials on
all these subjects and at the same time to
secure the views of the American officials
IN the hope that some common ground of
agreement might be secured. The purpose
of this preliminary discussion it is stated,
is to have it take an official aspect later in
case any common ground of agreement pre-
sents itself such as the formation of a COM
mission to consider all pending questions.