The San Francisco call., 1897-11-09
Importance of the Visit
of Canadian Statesmen
to Washington.
Reciprocity and the Settle
ment of Many Import ant
Questions Are Sought.
Sealing of Only Secondary Import
lance With Sir Wlifred Laur.er.
the Premier.
Special Dispatch 10 THE CALL
CALL OFFICE. R1Gss House,


CALL OFFICE. RIGGs HOUSE,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. s.
The authorities here have been advised
that the arrival to- m or.ow of Sir Wifred
Laurier, Premier of Canada; Sir Louis
Davies, Mini ter of Marine in the Laurier
Cabinet, and other officials of the do
minion, is to have an important bearin
not only on the Bering Sea settlement
but on all the pending questions which
have bsen sources of international COM
plication between the United States and
Canada, namely. The passage of alien
"A Dor laws TO and from Canada; the North
Atlantic tsherias question; the presence OF
many Americans in the klondise territory
belonging 10 Canada and In the mining
regions OF British Colum bia tae fisheries
trouble along the great lakes; the bond
ing privilege granted Canadian railroads;
the controversy over the rights in the
Fraser River, British Columbia, and Pn-
get Sound, and also the question OF a
reciprocity arrangement between the
United States and Canada.
There i, direct and definite information
| that Sir Wilfred comes prepared to take
up all these questions and, if possible. In
clude them in one general settlement,
whereby the constant friction they have
encendered may be overcome. On some
| of these subjects be will confer with
| President Mckinley, and on at least one
| OF them, that relating TO alien laborers
! crossing the border he will suggest such
| mutual modification OF present restriction
as, in his opin on, will be OF material ad-
| vantage 10 the thousands OF Americans
| now in the klondike and British Colum bia
| mining country, and at the same line
| will be OF advantage to Cansds along the
| eastern border. The essential features of
/ Sir Wilired' mission were communicated
| 10 the officials and are given out by per
| sons fully advised OF the Premler's plans,
| and it can be said that the suggestion that
| the decks be cleared OF existing disputes
| between Canada and the United States
met with the favor of the admin stration.
While the Bering Sea settlement oc-
| casioned the visit of the Canadian Pre-
| mer, the Canadian authorities attach
much less i'm portance 10 it than they do
| TO the other questions mentioned. They
/ say that the Canadian sealing is con-
| fined almost entirely to the far west
territory. where the seaiers tit out, and
| that even there a considers bic percentage
! OF the so-Csilsd Canadian seaiers sail from
| Seattle, San Francisco and other ports
and III out in Canadian ports under the
! British fag.
| What basis of settlement can be
| reached Is not disclosed, but little doubt,
! il is said, is felt by The Canadians thar an
amleable ad justment can be m ade. Among
the plans suggested is thai of an Inden-
| nifty large enough TO permit Canada 10
| buy out the seaiers anu retire them from
! business. With this done, the United
Slstes, Russia. Japan, Great Britain and
Canada would be together in a suppress
7 81, II IL 4
termination, however, 10 advance this
plan in preference TO Others, and the
scope OF the settlement will remain in
doubt until the negotiations open.