The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-30
NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHI
CANADA INFLUENCED ENGLAND To
OPPOSE THE CONFERENCE.
UndcrstRndinE Last summer WAS
That Russia nnd Japan Would
he Represented.

New York, September ga dispatch to
the Tribune from London says:
The English press. in discussing the
hitch which has arisen In the negotiations
FOR the sealing conference, assumes that
the idea of inviting Russia and japan was
an after thought on the part Of the WASH
ngton government. The state department
lis charged with attempting to enlarge tho
inquiry by drawing Russia and Japan into
II, when Lord Salisbury had specifically
agreed to conference restricted TO an ex-
change OF Views among the American.
British and Canadian experts,
These assumptions are entirely without
foundation. When MIR. Foster returned
from ST. Petersburg last summer Russia
had agreed to conference Before Lord
Salisbury wrote his dispatch on July rs
there had been several conferences at the
foreign office and the desire Of the state
department that both Russia and japan
should be included was plainly indicated.
The Russian ambassador In London had aG
interview with Lord Salisbury on the sub
joct at the foreign office Mr.. Foster had
conference with Mr.. Chamberlain and Sir
Wilfred Laurier. at which the scope OF the
proposed meeting was fully discussed. For
q month preceding July 2S no secret WAS
made OF the fact that Ahe United States
government had invited Russia and Japan
TO take part In the conference and was anx-
ious to have Great Britain and Canada CO.
operate In the movement. The assumption
OF certain English journals that the pro-
| posal included Russia and Japan was an
after thought for the sake OF entrapping
Great Britain Into conference at which
they would be oiltvotcd is ms baselesg az
the fantastic idea that the American diplo-
macy devised a freeh expedient for giving
the lions tail another twist ~,
The truth Is that tho minister OF tho
foreign office understood perfectly the
broad scope Of the conference TO which
England had been invited along with RUS
STA and Japan. but accepted the proposal In
| guarded way no he could object to the
presence OF representatives OF those two
powers II he chose TO do So
Ambassador Hay was however, equal TO
the emergency, for In perfectly courteous
letter OF acknowledgements. dated July 20,
ho reminded Lord Salisbury that, as had
been intimated all along, the Russian and
Japanese representatives would attend the
conference. When Lord Salisbury decided
In September TO object to the presence Of
those representatives 1t was because pres
sure had been brought to bear upon him
been any after thought or Yankee trick nj
Washington, as ill-informed critics here
hastily assume. Lord salisbury left the
bridge open for his retreat, but IL In not
| a foregone conclusion that he will crosa
1t and break up the conference. on the
contrary, II Ia probable that an internal
| tional meeting viii be arranged
II Is understood In diplomatic circles
| that the latest communications from Secre-
| tary Sherman on the subject have been fe-
| licitously phrased and have produced an
excellent effect at the foreign office. what
was needed was tact and II has not been
lacking England and Canada will prob
ably be left at liberty TO send delegates to
tho conference with the understanding that
they can not be outyoted or committed TO
any definite policy and that they can re-
| tire from II whenever they choose to do so.
| The conference will be purely consultative
II win supply scientific information which
will be useful In determining the general
question Of the best measures requisite for
the protection OF the last fur seal herd on
the face OF the waters. II VIII have no
binding force upon any nation represented
In the deliberations. The attitude OF the
American government is so reasonable that
II Is probable that the conference Will be
held on the original lines after the foreign
office has provided adequate evidence for
future publication In blue books that II has
not been coerced or pulled or entrapped By
the sly. wicked jingoes In America.