The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-12
TWO PREMIERS TALK SHOP.
First of the Formal Meetings Between Secretary
Sherman and Laurier.
IN ACCORD on r(ANY OF The ISSUES
Serious Difficulties, However, Stand in the Way of
q General Treaty.
YEARS SEAL CATCH REDUCED HALF
Figures for the First Time Made Public by the Ex-
perts at Washington.

WASHINGTON, Nov. n-Secretary
| Sherman and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, pre-
mier of Canada, this afternoon began
| the first of a formal series Of confer
ences with the purpose of bringing
| about an agreement by which as many
as possible of the questions now caus
| ing friction between the United States
and the Dominion of Canada may be
amicably adjusted by treaty or other
| wise. These conferences will be inde-
pendent of the Bering sea seal fish
! cries conference, which was the i'm
mediate occasion for the Canadian
premier's present visit to Washing on.
Among the causes Of friction between
the two countries have been the ques-
ticn Of the rights of citizens of either
country to pursue business callings in
the territory Of the other, and the
tariff question. The conference this
| afternoon was brought about by a note
which Secretary Sherman this morn
ing sent to Sir Wilfrid Laurier, asking
| him If it would be convenient to the
| latter to meet the secretary this after
noon, the Canadian premier respond
ing in the affirmative. The conference
accordingly began at 1:30 p. m. in the
state department.
Mr.. Sherman and Sir Wilfrid were
| together for two houra 1t can be
stated on authority that the discus
sion was devoted to the consideration
of the many important questions affect
ing the general relations between the
United States and Canada. In such a
discussion the secretary of state and
the Canadian premier found them
selves in much accord. Mr.. Sherman
has long favored the most cordial re-
lations between the United States and
Canada, having been, while in the
senate, author of several resolutions
in that direction. Sir Wilfrid has been
the conspicuous exponent of the same
view in Canada 1t was realized on
both hands, however, that the discus
sion now opened was not one which
could bring immediate results as many
Of the border controversies are Of long
standing and many practical difficult
ties were in the way of settlement.
| The purpose, however, was to approach
the general subject in spirit Of
friendliness and allow this to develop
| ways and means for dealing with the
numerous questions relating to both
countries, namely, border, immigration
reciprocity, fishery rights, the railway
bonding privilege, etc.
In view of cable reports from Lon
/ don, stating that Mr.. Chamberlain,
secretary Of state for the colonies in
| Salisbury's cabinet, had expressed to
Lord Aberdeen, governor-general of
10 CT 6iQa DnrOU91 OF dnV
move by Sir Wilfrid Laurier looking to
placing the United States on the same
basis as Great Britain in tariff affairs,
| the matter was called to the attention
| OF the Canadian officials. In response
All authoritative statement was made
| that no such disapproval had been eX-
| pressed by the imperial authorities,
! and that Lord Aberdeen had received
no such notification from Mr.. Cham
berlain or other source, as his lordship
! was with members of the Laur1er
party up to the time they left Ottawa
| and no mention was made of any such
| disapprobation from imperial quarters.
Today's sealing conference began at
! II o'clock, with a full representation
| of the British. Canadian and American
| officials. For the first time the sta
| tistics of the catch of seals for the
| present wear were available. These
were compiled by the American Of
ficers. and brought out prominently
two features which were regarded as
most important in supporting the
American contention; namely, that the
catch had fallen about one-half during
the present season, showing conclu-
sively, in the opinion of the American
| experts, that the seal herd was being
| rapidly wiped out, and, second, that
! the catch Of seals from the American
! islands in Bering sea was about 10 to l.
as between the Canadian sealers under