The San Francisco call., 1897-11-22
TO Be FAVORED
BY ENGLAND
Friendly Attitude in the
Settlement of Vexed
Questions.
An Agreemen With Canada
Now to Be Aided by Great
Britain.
eciprocal Arrange m snts With the
Northern Nsighbor Of the
United Stat S.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL
CALL OFFICE. RIGGS HoUsE,l
w WASHINGTON. Nov. 2I

WASHINGTON, NOv. Il
There is good reason to believe that the
British Government will view with favor
the formation Of commission to clear
up vexatious questions between the
United States and Canada. This attitude
Will be i'm portant in the consummat on of
the commission plan, for the best efforts
of the United States and Canada toward
general settle ment could come to
nau ht unless the imperial Government It
approved the efforts and stood ready to
give them official execution i'll the form
of a treaty. At first the sharp differences
aroused bv the recent Bering Sea meeting
led to the belief tnat Great Britain might
stand in the way of a comm mission which
would discuss, among other questions,
such i'm perial subjects as the tariff.
The British have been tenacious of
holding The advantages secured by Cana
da's preferential British tariff and it was
thought the Colonial Office at London
would not view with favor any movement
by a commission which would disturb
the preferential tariff.
1t appears, however, that :he British
authorities are sincerely anxious to close
up the various irritating questions which
have long existed between Canada and
the Unite d States through the medium OF
a com mission or otherwise, and that no
idea is entertained that when the COM
mission dealt with the i'm perial subject of
the tariff it would involve any disturb
ances of tie British Canadian tariff rela-
tions
There are said to be many articles, such
sol G.b L:nl
between Great Britain and Canada. On
such articles therefore, any reciprocal ar
rangements between the United States
and Canada would have no influence on
British trade with Canada. The home
Government is said to be fully conscious
of the advantages which Canada may
secure in the extensive American market
lying alongside her and there is under
stood to be every desire to aid Canada in
the enjoyment of reciprocal trade with
this country.
Already the British EN- bassador has
been authorized from LONDON to begin
negotiations for reciprocity treaties be-
tween the United States and the British
West Indian colonies.
This is cited to show the favor which
the London authorities exhibit toward Sc
curing the best reciprocal advantages for
British colonies. 1t is said that the same
view would prevail as to Canadian reci-
procity. In any event the work OF a COM
mission would be preliminary only, and
it would remain for the British Govern
ment to give it effect by formal treaty.
The subjects other than the tariff, such
as border immi grafton, fishing in the
Great Lakes. etc., are not OF an imperial
character, and concern only the United
States and Canada. In these, it is said.
Great Britain has no interest whatever,
except to see them settled on terms satis-
factory to Canada. The lake fisheries
have been prolific source OF trouble. 1t
is claimed that the fish of the lakes, par
ticularly wiltefish, are being exterminated
by the lax laws of some of the States bor-
dering on the lakes Tne destruction of
the fish is said to be analogous to the de-
struction OF the seals in the Bering Sea,
and one of the subjects which Canada
would urge before the commission would
be the protection of the fisheries in the
lakes.
Professor darcy Thompson. the British
seal expert, having concluded his labors
lett to- day for Toronto, intending to reach
New York In time to take the Lucanla for
Liverpool later in the week. His trip to
OdUdud lS peISOndI Has uO COHUtCllOH
with pending Bering Sea negotiations
Professor Thompson expressed himself as
well pleased with the recent meeting OF
experts and with the results arrived at.
Since the expert agreement WAS reached
a protocol has been signed by Mr.. Ham
lin, chairman of the expert meeting, and
by the secretaries, Mr.. Venning, in behalf
of Canada, and Mr.. Clark, in behalf of the
United States.
This protocol sets forth the conditions
under which ihe meeting was neid, with
the minutes OF the proceedings. and to
some extent aids in the Interpretation OF
the agreement by showing all the ciIcum-
stances leading up to ii.
Sir Julian Pauncefole, the British En-
passador has been confined to his room
for the last two weeks with q return OF his
old attack of rheuma atism. II prevented
his attendance at the Bering Sea meet
ings, and in this and all other affairs OF
the EN- bassy Mr.. Adams, first secretary.
has been in charge. In the meantime
such questions as reciprocity with the
British West Indies. the general arbitra-
tion treaty, ETC., have been in allegiance,
but are likely to come up for discussion
with the authorities here as soon as Sir