The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-11-11

WASHINGTON. Nov. 6.-The Russia.
Japanese treaty relating to Bering sea
has not been signed, the statement
being made by officials that the formal.
ties were not yet completed. When
the conference adjourned last Monday
it was with the understanding that all
preliminaries would be arranged by
yesterday and the treaty signed. But
the issuance of powers as envoys is
taking more time than was anticipated,
and the signing has been deferred, it
being stated that it will occur in few
days.
The meeting between the American
and British experts looks more promis.
ing. The state department has received
word Sir Wilfred Laurier, premier of
Canada and MIR. Davies, minister of
marine in the Laurier cabinet, is
coming here next week. With them
will come Prof. Macoun, the seal eX-
pert designated by the British foreign
office to confer with the authorities
here. Although Prof. Macoun will
hold the only credentials as delegate,
yet the presence of the Canadian pre-
mier and q member of his cabinet is
expected TO have an important bearing
on the BeriDg sea question, as we'll as
that Of commercial reciprocity between
the United States and Canada.
The British embassy was not advised,
and 1t was understood that the British
foreign office was equally unaware of
the fact that the chief officials of Can
ada would come to Washington to treat
In person on the subject. Up to this
time the British authorities had strenu-
hof . l,a p
ing was to be confined strictly to an ex.
change of technical information be.
tween experts" and they have re-
sisted any larger consideration of the
subject, which would involve general
principles. Lord Salisbury's letter to
Secretary Sherman carefully limited
the meeting to one of experts aud,
in execution of this, Prof. Thompson
was named as the British expert and
Prof. MacOun as the expert of Canada.
Notwithstanding this strict limitation,
adopted at London, the two chief Off.
cials of Canada will come to Washing.
ton prepared to discuss the subject
from a much broader standpoint than
any thus far conceded in London. How
far they will be able to treat concerning
Bering sea, reciprocity or other subjects
is question of interesting conjecture.
SidJS 10 lluGu
at their coming, as it is felt to offer the
first prospect of considering the sealing
question on broader lines than hereto
fore.
Sir Wilfred Laurier IS regarded as
the head of that element ia Canada
favorable to the most cordial relations
with the United States. The Liberal
party, of which he is the leader, came
into power on the issue of closer COM
mercial relations with the United
States. The Conservative party re-
sisted this as tending toward the an
nexation of Canada to the United
States and as disloyal to the mother
country. Sir Wilfred has not been an
annexationist. but has favored the most
liberal trade arrangement with the
United States. Heretofore his efforts,
and those of his party associates,
toward securing a reciprocity treaty
with the United States, have been un-
availing, but within the last few days,
the state department has intimated that
it would view with favor negotiations
for reciprocity between Canada and the
United States. The coming of Sir
Wilfred at this time is therefore Of
more than usual interest, not only in
its bearing on Bering sea negotiations,
but also In connection with Canadian
reciprocity.