The San Francisco call., 1897-10-29
Delegates From Russia and
Japan Have Ca bled to Their
Governments.
GREAT BRITAIN'S CLAIMS
NOT MENACED.
All Interested Nations Are Ex-
pected to Unite in the Plan
to Preserve the Herds.
Special Dispatch to THE CALI.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2S.-In reliable
quarters il is said that the conference be-
tween Russia, Japan and the United
States, now proceeding here, in reference
to sealing in the Bering Sea ana the
North Pacific, has advanced to an impor-
tant stage. and that a proposition has
been reduced to writing which, if ac-
cepted, will bring about complete change
in the sealing question. The propos ton
is said 10 be acceptable 10 the United
States.
1t is understood to be acceptable SINH
larly to the Russian delegates now here,
but in view of the restrictions placed upon
them by their credentials it has been
thought BILE 10 able to ST. Peters
burg for final instructions.
The Japanese delegates are understood
to have felt at first that the proposition
would not be in their interest, but, in
fuller confidence, Mr.. Fujita determined
to cable the substance OF the proposition
to his Government, accompanying it with
recommendation for ITS acceptance.
Little doubt is entertained tha. Russia
will accept the proposition, and, in view
of Mr.. Fujita's recommendation, it is be-
lieved that Japan also Will Join in it.
The greatest secrecy is preserved in all
official circles as TO the nature of the
proposition, and it is not officially ad-
mitted that any proposition has been
made From reliable sources it Is under
stood that the proposition has lar
reaching scope and provides for the
material Limitation or entire suspension
of pelagic sealing or sealing on the high
seas.
Such a decisive step. If agreed to by
Russia, Japan and the United States,
would, 1t is understood, not involve any
concerted move TO menace the claims of
Great Britain ana Canada to the right of
peIagic sealing on the high seas, but
would rather be a proposition EXPIRE sslve
of the conclusions OF the three most in
terested powers, that in the interests of
humanity and the preservation OF the seal
he rds of their respective Governments all
nations. including Great Britain and her
colony, Canada, should unite with Rus
sia, the United States and Japan in such
effective prevention OF pelagic sealing on
the high seas will put an end to 1t and
thereby secure the preservation of the
seals
The deliberations of the confsrees lead
ing up to the propo osition would be pro-
ductive of numerous interesting and i'm
portant features. All of the members of
the conference were placed under a
pledge of secrecy, and they have main
tanned this with the greatest care. 1t be-
came evident at the outset that the
United States and Russia were prepared
TO go further than Japan. At all times
there was the most cordial sentiment
among the conferees and a general desire
TO reacn a common ground of unders tand-
ing.
In the case of Russia it DEVELOPED that
to some extent her action was conditioned
by a modus viyendi made between Great
Britain aud Russia about the time the
Paris court OF arbitration was sitting, and
covering the course of those two coun-
tries concerning the fur seals on Russian
islands and surro unding waters. But lit
tie had been known of this modus viyendi
until the conference me-. Under it a
zone OF neutral water was established
thirty miles wide surrounding the Rus
sian islands, within which Great Britain
agreed TO suspend pelagic sealing. While
this was of material advantage to Russia,
yet 1t was felt that any proposition for
the entire suspension of peiagic sealing,
even beyond thirty miles, would have 10
be reconciled with the modus vivendi. 1t
modus vivendi was not a continuing
agreement, but was from year to year de-
pending for It's exl,tence on the annual
readoption by the British Parliament
The last act OF Parliament carried the
modus vivendi up to Dscem Der 81 mex,
1t was clearly the desire OF the Russian
delegates TO secure the largest possible
protection for her fur seals, and this es-
iablished throughout the deliberations a
close cooperation between the United
States and r issia. AS TO Japan it was
not so clear that her Interests were for
further restrictions on pelagic sealing.
On the contrary, one of the Japanese dele
gates made it clear that Japan had more
interest in catching seals than in pre=erv-
ing them.
An ad djournment was accordingly taken
until next Monday, by which time it is
not doubted the Governments at st. Pc
tersburg and TOXIC will have taken final
action on this proposition.
1t was felt that when the three powers
owning the seals made such an agreement
as TO protecting their property Great
Britain would be likely to cooperate in
this purpose If she could induce Canada.
where the sealing fleets are equipped, to
accent IL.