The herald., 1897-07-31

COURTESY
Grows Suddenly Almost
Overwhelming
A CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD
TO SETTLE THE PELAGIC SEAL.
ING QUESTION
Great Britain Also Agrees to Take
Part in an International Mon
etary Convention
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
LONDON, July 3O-The British foreign
office notified Ambassador Hay this
morning that Great Britain accepted the
proposition of the United States for an
international conference on the ques-
ton of pelagic sealing in Bering sea, to
be held at Washington the coming
autumn.
John w. Foster, the United States
special commissioner on the sealing ques-
ton, will sail for New York by the steam
ship st. Louis from Southampton.
In the course of an interview with the
correspondent of the Associated Press
today Mr.. Foster said: Wherever
1 have been, at st. Petersburg, Berlin,
Paris or here in London, have been
received in the most cordial manner
Whatever may be the feeling in the
United States anent the reported an
tagonism to our government displayed
to foreign powers, have seen nothing
of it
Everywhere have had evidence that
the foreign governments are willing to
meet any question raised by the United
States in the spirit of the utmost frank
ness and open mindedness. Perhaps it
is needless for me to say that this is
most gratifying to me officially and in
my private capacity.
"The British government has agreed
to accept our proposition for a sealing
conference. am now returning to make
an immediate report to President Nc
Kinley. have had long and fairly candid
conferences with Mr.. Chamberlain, and
last Sunday 1 passed the day with Sir
Richard Webster, the encouragement
who is the advisor of the British govern
ment on points of law involved. Ny
statements met with the frankest and
most impartial consideration.
AS TO HAWAII
Gas to the Hawaiian question, may
cay, that in London, Paris, Berlin and
ST. Petersburg have had ample oppor-
tunity to ascertain the prevailing senti-
ment in political and commercial circles.
In all of these capitals annexation is re-
garded as the natural, if not inevitable
result of the large growth and expansion
of the United States on the western coast
of America.
ued Mr.. Foster, that any other foreign
power would be permitted to occupy the
islands, owing to their strategic i'm
portance, the proposed annexation must
be aquiesced in by the European gov
ernments, the position which it would
give the United States in the Pacific
would not be welcomed by nations seek
ing supremacy in that quarter of the
world.
MY personal views are we'll known in
the United States. Nevertheless it is
extremely gratifying that the necessary
expansion of the United States will not
be the cause of European difficulties and
is appreciated as the logical outcome of
American destiny"
The Chronicles Washington corre-
spondent cables that Prof. Elliott of the
Smithsonian institution has written a
caustic letter to Assistant Secretary nf
State Day, criticising John w. Foster
for writing the notorious dispatch to
Amba ssiador Hay anent the sealing
question.
Prof. Elliott says the dispatch lays the
state department open to crushing re-
ply from the Canadians. and he warns
Mr. Day that he will find himself in the
same mortifying position as Mr.. Blaine
in 1890, when Canada promptly rebutted
his letter. In conclusion Prof Elliott
says:
This whole sealing business, from the
day the trouble began in 1890. to date,
has not been in the hands of a compe-
tent man on our side for one single mo-
ment 1t has been and is now the sport
of the Canadians ad the. languid con-
tempt of the British ministry is all II
receives when it comes up there"
The Times editorially congratulates
its readers upon the fact that the nego
tiations regarding the question of pc
lagic sealing in the Bering sea have re-
suited in an agreement for an interna-
tional conference on tine subject to be
held in Washington in October. Ths
Times thinks that Russia and Japan
will take part in the conference, which
will not have revising powers.
1--WE are glad to note" the paper says,
"that the United States government has
so far modified it's views since the send,
ing of the Sherman dispatch. apart from
which there never was any real diff
Guilty, both governments desiring to pro-
tect legitimate industry and only diff
fering as to facts an dmethods."