New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-08
THE SEALING CONFERENCE.
WITH COMMENTS UPON LORD SAILS.
BURY's DIPLOMATIC METHODS AND
ENGLISH STRUCTURES UPON
AMERICAN POLICY.

London, September 70.
Lord Salisbury does not believe In conducting
diplomacy in a glass house where he can be seen
by curious observers outside the walls. He
works out OF sight and broods in silence over
questions great and small In every other Eu-
ropean capital there is an official press. which
receives confidential information from the For
eign Office and follows the cues given FOR ts
guidance In London there Is no officially in-
structed press. 1.-The Times speaks In an an.
thoritative tone respecting British foreign policy
but it is doubtful II 1t be admitted In any excep'
tional degree to the enjoyment Of Lord Sails.
bury's confidence. 1t has the best facilities for
obtaining the earliest copies Of blue books and
for finding out what Is going on; but II is IN no
sense the Official organ Of the Foreign Office
No other London journal is aided from the
prompter's box.
Indeed II ia sometimes a matter for regret
that the Master Of the Foreign Office Is so reti-
cent and unsympathetic in his relations with the
press II he were more communicative, there
might be more tolerance and intelligence In the
comments Of English journals upon diplomatic
affairs For example, blue book was pub
lished week ago containing Lord Salsbury's
short letter Of July % to Ambassador Hay. re-
specting the Behring Sea conference. and the
elaborate defence by the Colonial once or the
honor and good faith Of British diplomacy. This
budget OF correspondence was received with ap-
prevail on all Sides and Lord Salisburys WIS.,
dom in consenting to the holding OF conference
was generally recognized after satisfaction nad
been expressed that Mr.. Chamberlain mad peen
allowed to present an ingenious and courteous
tn quoque argument Within week there was
an outburst OF Impotence and defamation over
what was hastily condemned as Yankee sharp
practice In attempting to enlarge the scope OF
the proposed sealing conference by admitting
Russia and Japan to a share In the deliberations.
This outburst would have been prevented, II the
blue book had been accompanied by frank
statement Of the essential facts OF the case
Lord Salisbury had come out Of the secret
chamber where he orders the diplomatic policies
NJ England and taken a leader writer into his
confidence tho truth which was artfully con-
cealed between the lines OF his equivocal ac-
ceptance Of an invitation to the conference
might have been readily explained. He would
have been forced to admit that he had revised
the invitation himself before accepting It, For
several weeks he had been considering tho
American proposals for conference OF all the
maritime Powers interested IN the fur seal
fisheries He had been Informed that Russia
had consented to take part In such conference
rcsentative. The Russian Ambassador in Lon
don had visited the Foreign Office TO discuss
the matter. The Japanese Minister had inter-
ested himself in the proposals. The conference
70 which England and Canada had been In
vted by the United States Government was de-
signed to include both Russia and Japan. LORD
Salisbury was unwilling to concede that those
Powers had any interest in the fur seal Usher
los and accordingly restricted the acceptance 70
a conference in which only Great Britain
Canada and the United States should be repre-
sented and the object OF which should De 10
ASCERTAIN whether the fur seals had increased
or diminished In number since the Paris award.
No conference OF this nature had been proposed
by the United States. The State Department
asked in the spring for conference In oroer 10
revise the existing sealing regulations The
Foreign Office refused to entertain the PROPOSE
ton The State Department then proposed q
conference In which Russia and Japan should be
included
II these explanations had been made by an
Inspired leader writer the real nature OF the
acceptauce would have been understood IL
would have been quite clear that Lord SAILS
bury while aware that Russia and Japan haa
been invited to the conference had reserved the
privilege Of Directing TO their participating IN
the discus sion OF the general question OF ths
measures required for the preservation OF the
fur seal herd. No surprise would have been
expressed by any English journal when the
tidings came from America that the state De-
nartment adhered to the original invitation.
and insisted upon having Russia and Japan
includ ID in the proposals. There would have
been no excited defamation over Yankee disin-
nervousness and sharp practice in attempting
H.
would have been no contemptuous references to
the American pastime OF twisting the lions tan
The course OF the State Department would not
have been omen 10 many unjust structures
which have been passed upon 1t by the Eng
llsh press.
II the curt letter OF July 2S was not under
stood when II was published In the blue DOOR,
# did not deceive the American Ambassador
when he received 1t. for. in acknowledging 1t on
the following day. he reminded the Foreign Of
fee that the conference which had been pro-
nosed by the United States was one In which
Russia and japan would be represented. Ihat
was the American proposal. whether Lord Sails
bury had accepted it or had rewritten the invi-
tation to suit his own purposes. 1t was
straightforward plan for enabling all the mari
time Powers having any interest in the fur seal
fisheries to investigate the scientific conditions
and to consider practical measures for prevent
Ing the destruction Of the herd. 1t was not
disingenuous device fer entrapping England
and Canada into an agreement by which their
own claims and privileges would be compro-
missed 1t was a reasonable proposal for con-
Quoting in an impartial and friendly spirit
strictly scientific inquiry and then leaving every
Power represented in the conference at liberty
TO act at its discretion.
The motives OF the Foreign Office in accept
ing it's own revised Invitation in such way
as to leave the door open for retreat are in
telligible enough. Canada is the spoiled child
OF imperial diplomacy. Its influence is supreme
in the Behrng Sea negotiations. The Foreign
Office takes its cue from Ottawa. IL Canada