The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-10-09
THE INDIAN MlNTS
WILL NOT OPEN
Britain'S 5 Answer to the United States
on Bimetsllism Forthcoming.
MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT
Had India Bssa as Favorable as the Bssk Of
tnglsnd- Sealing Ma ter will
Not BE Keopenec.

new 10TH, Dckyber b.~-A ot-iatt T. 10
the Tribune from London says:
The British governments answer O.
the proposal Of the United States ana
France for bimetallism by interna1 1on3l
agreement will probably be ready within
fortnight Possibly It will be delivered
earlier. a. there is evidence that the min
OF the controversy over the monetary
question In the press and wish % put an
end 20 H. Two months ago they were
strongly disposed 10 make such c0nces-
sions TO the United States and France
as would have enabled those powers %
conyoke a monetary conference. Sir Nj
chael Hicks-B Beach Obtained from the gov
ernor Of the Bank Of England a quail
flied assent 10 the conversion into silver
OF one-hfth OF the reserve for The re-
demption OF note issues. The Indian
government was also consulted res Decting
the expedlency OF opening the mints to
the free coinage OF silver. II the answer
to that proposition had been as favorable
as the reply OF the governor OF the
Bank Of England on the minor points
OF a larger use OF silver In the reserves,
Senator Wolcotts mission would havt
been completely successful in opening
the way for a new session OF the con-
ference That answer has not yet been
officially revealed. but II was received
in London and is believed in diplomatic
the Indian mints.
No, one word OF this has yet appeared
IN print and no official confirmation OF
II can be obtained, but It is currently
reported among the best informed flnan-
clers that tine Indian government has
advised against reopening the mlnts.
II this is true. and there are strong
reasons for believing that It is. the min
listers will no; have the courage TO act
against the advice OF the Indian govern
ment. but will summon the French and
American ambassadors and the bimetalllc
envoys without delay and return cour-
teous but firm answer to proposals for
an international agreement for the main
tcnance OF the par value OF gold and !
silver.
Cana,ia and Great Britain have re- |
fused definitely to take part in a sealinv |
II representatives OF Russia |
and Japan are allowed to participate in
IT, This matter was settled yesterday |
and cannot be reopened. When the dip |
lomatic correspondence is published 1t I
will be evident that the state department |
has done everything in its power to en-
able Canada and Great Britain to attend /
A conference which was declared to be /
purely consultative and which would 4
nave had no binding force upon any mar
time power taking part in It. Canada /
mas interposed her veto. and Great Brit
ain on this question has no will OF her
lwn. and has sanctioned II. Lord Sal
sbury having revised the original in
.itation Of last July at the Instance of
canada, now follows the lead Of Ottawa
n declining to meet Russia Japan and
he United States in a friendly confer
,nce for determining whether anything
an be done for the protection of the
ur seals.
No reasonable objection could be Of
erred to the presence Of the Russian and
representatives, but Canada has
adopted difIerentall tariff in favor of
he British traders and her caprices suf-
Ice to control the diplomacy OF the for
;lgn office on American questions.
The American ambassador is still sent
o London in Difference to old-time usage.
lie might more properly be accredited
O Ottawa. where the English diplomatic
,olicy on American questions really has
Is origin Doubtless the state depart
nent can have no option except to
,ersevere in conference to which Rus
ia and Japan are invited.
It can subsequently hold, II it likes.
econd or supplementary conference with
1reat Britain and Canada and open the
yay for a revision OF the existing regu-
ations next year. The holding of a
second conference is question which
will depend upon the scientific informa-
ion produced before the first conference
4 It be true. as the best experts In the
ur trade in London admit, that 50 per
,ent Of the calves now coming into this
market show gunshot holes, and that the
,ulk Of them are the furs of female seals,
he speedy extinction of the herd cannot
IA long deferred. If II be true that there
ire now only 100000 seals breeding on the