Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-20
JOINT COMMISSION TO SETTLE ALL
CONTROVERSIES.
SEAL KILLING TO BE STOPPED.
THIS Is a CONDITION IMPOSED ny
THE UNITED STATES.
Fact That Canada Is Ready to Nero-
tiate Indicates Her Acauiescence
In This ConditiOn-Treaty
Proper Must he With
England.

washington, Nov le--The CiSpatche5
from Ottawa announcing that the Canadian
cabinet has decided 10 send commission
to Washington to negotiate with similar
commission to be appointed by the United
States government touching all questions at
issue between the United States and Canada
has had the important effect of drawing
forth here for the first time u statement OF
the exact proposition that was laid before
the Canadian contingent when they were in
Washington a few days ago. u can now
be stated that the proposal of Mr.. Foster.
representing the United States government.
which the Canadian delegates took home
with them to submit to their council was:
First-That both nations agree at once to
a suspension of all killing of seals during
the next season in the Pacific ocean and Be
ring sea. the modus TO go into operation on
the first of next month
Second-That representatives OF the gov
ernments of the United States and Great
Britain. including Canada he designated
to enter, with as little delay as possible.
upon the consideration of all unsettled ques-
tons between Canada and the United
States. with the view to a settlement by
treaty. this to include the sealing question
and many other matters which either gov
ernment may choose to bring forward.
So far the state department has not been
advised that the Canadian council has
acted upon the propositions. but an early
answer is expected. as Is evidenced by the
fact that the date set for the beginning of
the modus stopping the killing OF the seal,
is TO later than the LIST OF next month
One important fact that is not clearly
disclosed in the Canadian dispatches IS
that the modus must be agreed upon posi-
lively before our government consents to
the commission In other words. there
must be no more killing Of seals while the
commission is at work. The commission
might occupy a long time in its deiibera-
tions and If pelagic sealing Is to go on
meanwhile. it is believed by our experts
that there will be no seals left to serve as
a basis for negotiations. The proposition
of our government having been SO explicit
ly stated, it may be understood that the
announcement of the purpose of the Cana
dians to appoint a commission implies that
they have decided TO accept the premise.
namely: the agreement of a modus vi
vendi
Nothing has yet been done toward ar
ranging the details of the commissions
work should one he agreed upon Proba-
ably Messrs. Foster and Kasson. and pos
sibly Mr.. Hamlin. will be of our side. and.
owing to the nature and complexity
of the question that would come be-
fore the commission under the lib
eral permissive clause. other men,
bers might be required in the nature of
experts in particular lines. such as the
fisheries. reciprocity. labor. immigration
questions. mining and timber issue, and
such matters.
A definite feature of the proposed COM
mission is that Sir Julian Pauncefote. the
British ambassador, shall be at the head
OF the eBritish-Canadian commissioners. and
in all probability that Sir WiIfrid Laurisr
shall be associated with the ambassador
on the commission. This choice of the
British ambassador Is significant as show
ing the purpose of this government to
recognize fully the imperial character of
the negotiations and to conduct them only
through the authorized representatives OF
the British government. The dispatches
from. Ottawa fail to state this fact, and
to that extent are said to be misleading
There can be no Canadian commission. ard
nobody representing Canada can conduct
negotiations with the United States EOv-
eminent. This was fully recognized dur
ing the recent meetings and it took form
ia the propositions submitted. AT least
one of these propositions distinctly states
sfaiI be made between the governments
of her Britannia majesty and the United
States and that the British ambassador
representing the British-American side.
Much apprehension was caused during the
recent visit of the Canadians by the un-
official character of their discussions. as
II was recognized that official negoti-
ations were possible only between the
United States and Great Britain. and not
through the medium of Canadian officials.
This misapprehension cannot arise again.
IL is said Any commission determined
upon at Ottawa would first have to be-
submitted to the colonial office at London
and If approved In that quarter 1t would
assume an official form between the
United States and Great Britain. The
action Of the Canadian cabinet is not,
therefore, final, but is expressive of the
wishes Of the Dominion authorities. Up
to the present time there has been
intimation to how the British govern
ment would view the formation of COM
mission Mr.. Adam, of the British en-
bassy. Was present at the meeting at
MIR. Fosters house when the question OF
stood however that Mr.. Adams attend
ance was unofficial. and not a repre-
sentative of the British government.