New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-07
SEALING TREATY SIGNED.
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
RUSSIA AND JAPAN.
THE CONVENTION REQUIRES RATIFICATION BY
THE SENATE. AND ITS TEXT Is KEPT
SECRET -FoRMALITIEs AT THE
STATE DEPARTMENT.

sEcRET-TORMATLTIEs At THE
STATE DEPARTMENT.
tBY TELEGRAru 70 THE TRIBuHE.l
Washington, Nov. 6.-Thc tlipartite sealing
conference, which has been in progress here
for the last two weeks. came 20 an end this
afternoon. when the representatives. of the three
participating Powers. Russia Japan and the
United States. signe1 a convention looking to
the suppression Of peagic sealing in the waters
Of the North Pacific and Of Behring Sea. Tho
treaty whose text Is to be withheld. according
to custom. until after its presentation to the
Senate for ratification. was witnessed and
sealed this afternoon at the State Department
the delegates to the conference affxing their
names follows: For the United states. Messrs
Toster Hamn and Jordan: for Russia, Messrs
de valiant. Botkne and Routkowsky. and FOR
Japan. Messrs. Matsu Fujita and Mitsukuri
Secretary Sherman was not present at the
ceremony. which was brief and formal 1t is
understood that the new convention will prac-
tically prohibit any indulgence in pelagic seal
ing henceforth on the part Of the citizens or
subjects Of the three Powers which have now
united to insure for time the preservation of
seal life.
The signing of the treaty took place in the
large diplomatic room Of the State Department,
delegates of the three Governments assembled
at least an hour and a half before the time
appointed for the formal signature Of the docu-
ment. and were rset by John W. Foster. There
were some prelimnaries to be disposed OF be-
fore all was ready for the signatures. and the
delegates were obliged to leave the Department
for short visits to their Legations. in order TO
obtain seals and certain papers Of authorize
tion which were necessary.
Finally, just at noon. all was ready, and. led
by General Foster, the delegates passed into the
diplomatic room and took their places at the
long table. The credentials Of the delegates
were read in turn. and. after the treaty
had been carefully inspected. the signatures
were attached The first were those Of Messrs.
Foster. Hamlln and Jordan, and the others
were attached in order according To the particu-
lar copy OF the document held by the delegates.
There were three copies 0f the treaty, one for
each Nation represented and the delegates OF
each Nation signed their own copy first.
The scaling Of the documents was attended
To by NJ dc valiant the charge d'Ahaires OF
the Russian Government. ana William GWynne,
the latter being an expert In this line having
sealed almost every treaty negotiated mere
since the treaty of Washington With the attlx-
Ing Of the seals in wax the formaIities closed,
and there VAS an exchange Of Congratulations
over the consummation Of the work.
Later in the afternoon the delegates again as
scmbled at the State Department and formally
signed the protocols or The various phases or
the negotiations leading up TO the hnal agree
iuent.
II Is expected that the meeting Of British and
American experts will take place next week,
according To the original programme unless
there should be some Intervention from the
British Foreign once. which is not anticipated.
Meanwhile tho British expert. Professor Thomp-
son. who Is now In washington. VIII Dc mace
acquainted with whct has already been accom-
plishcd by the Governments Of the United
states. Russia and Japan In the way OF a