Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-12-18
ANOTHER UNNOTrCED CLAUSE.
This Time n u In the Anti Pelaglc Bill
-1oster and Laurier.

This fime n u in the Anti Pelasic Bin
Poster and Laurier.
Washington, Dec. Is. - 1t has de-
veloped that the bill relating to ,elagic
sealing which has Just passed both
branches Of congress and is before the
president contains a provision of far
reaching importance. which has thus
far escaped attention. This places an
absolute prohibition on the further
bringing Of sealskins into the United
States from any source whatever. As
the United States is the largest market
In the world for sealskins this complete
stoppage Of the trade in this country
Is severe measure against the Brit.
ish and Canadian industries which take
and cure the skins and then dispose Of
them largely In the United States
When the bill was proposed II was gen.
orally supposed that its only purpose
was to prohibit American citizens from
carrying on pelagic sealing. This feat
ure was the only one to attract atten-
ton during the discussions.
The correspondence which has passed
between Sir Wilfrid Laurier. the Can
adam premier. and Colonel Foster, the
American negotiator, touching the seal
negotiations since the Washington
conference last month has Just been
made public. II consists Of two letters
In the first Sir Wilfrid passes upon the
proposition from our government which
was taken back to Canada by him at
the conclusion Of the conference He
says he is willing to enter at once upon
q review OF the whsle seal question.
though the Paris award was made re-
visable only at the end OF five years.
provided the other questions of i'm
portance to the two countries-immi-
grafton. reciprocity. fish protection, ETC.,
be considered at the same time.
He declines, however, to suspend
sealing meantime, on the ground that
the fleet would be dissipated entirely;
that the owners OF vessels would be en-
titled to compensation beyond the dis
position of parliament to vote, and
finally, that, as shown by the experts
report. there is now q tendency towards
equilibrium in the maintenance Of the
seal herd. He suggests that il a Joint
commission to consider all questions at
issue. including this. be at once ap-
pointed, it would be possible to secure
the necessary legislation from parlia-
ment at the February session and from
congress during the present session to
insure the execution Of any recon-
mendation with regard to Behring sea
next season.
The second letter Is from Foster to
Sir Wilfrid. Foster says that Sir Will
frid's answer Is a declination Of his
proposition and renewal OF the
Canadian proposition made at
the conference. and the president de-
clines to reverse his position on that
point. Should the herd reach the
equilibrium pointed out by Sir Wilfrid
1t will have passed the period when
negotiations will be Of any avail.
Besides, as the United States will be-
put to the expense of $4,000 to MAIN
tain the patrol next year pelagic seal
ing ought to be voluntarily given up,
because 1t is unneighborly and inhu-
man. Foster expresses regret that Sir
Wilfrid's visit to Washington gives so
little promise Of satisfactory results,
but entertains the hope that 1t may yet
bear good fruit.