Omaha daily bee., 1897-10-07
JOHN BULL SAYS NO
Declines to Admit Russia and Japan to
Seal Conference.
WILL NOT CONFER IF THEY ARE PRESENT
Insists that They Have No Interest in the
Seal Question.
WILLING TO MEET UNCLE SAM ALONE
British Government Does Not Suggest Any
Date for Conference.
TWO MEETINGS ARE LIKELY TO RESULT
United States, Russin nnd Japan In
One, and United states, Great
Britain and Canada
In the other.

LONDON, Oct 6--The officials OF the
British foreign office have communicated to
the United States ambassador, Colonel John
Hay the final decision of that government,
that Great Britain must refuse to take part
in any scaling conference in which representa-
tives of Russia and Japan participate. The
British government however, asserts its
willingness to confer with the United States
alone, but it insists that Russia and japan
are not interested in the Bering sea seals
to a degree emitting them to representation
at the conference, The British government
does not suggest any date for a conference
with the United States and II is thought
probable in London that Great Britain's
withdrawal 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
tho withdrawal of Great Britain from the
| Washington conference is due to Canada's
! nsstenCe and that until the Canadian Of
| fcials informed the foreign office here OF
| Canadas objections to meeting Russia and
| Japan. out of fear of being outvoted, Great
| Britain fully intended to enter the confer
| ence.
| But for Colonel Hays representations the
| first announcement OF Great Britains un-
willingness to take part in the conference
would have been final but the United States
! ambassador so plainly vOnted out the .un.
| usual character of Great Britaln's change oi
mind at so late day that some of the foreign
Office officials decided to reopen the question
and have been endcavoring, but unsuccess.
! fully, to secure Canadds aCqulesence.
Sir Julian Pauncefote. the British am.
! bassador to the United States, also used his
| influence in a spirit of friendliness to the
United States in efforts to secure the adher-
ence of G eat Britain to the original pro-
gram. The diplomats here consider that Great
Britain's course was not courteous to Russia
and Japan.
Experts who have been investigating sales
| of sealskins in London in order to obtain
| evidence FOR the OF the United States at
the conference have proof that so per cent
of the skins sold by the Canadian COM
panies are those of female seals and that
most of the animals were shot.
| CONFIRMED AT WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON, Oct 6.-Inquiry at the
| State department confirms the announcement
| from the British foreign oiice in London
| that the British government has refused to
| take part in any conference in which Russia
| and Japan participate Peyond this con-
| frmation the officials OF the department de-
| cline to discuss the question. as correspond
ence is still in progress on the subject
| John w. Foster, eX-sccretary of state, who
| is in charge of the interests of the United
| States in the Bering sea seal fisheries mat
| ter was asked about the statement that
| there would be two conferences, one between
| the United States and Great Britain and the
other between tie United States, Russia and
! Japan and he declined to discuss this point
at the present time.
Mr.. Foster makes public the names OF tho
| following delegates who axe to represent the
Russian government at the conference: Coun-
cillor Martens of the ministry of foreign af-
| fairs and professor of inte national law In the
| University of st. Peter burg; Court Coun-
| sellor p. Botrinne of the Russian diplomatic
| Sc vice, formerly attached to the legation of
that country at Washington, and Councillor
Of State Grebnitzky, governor of the Com
| mander (seaD islands