Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-01
TO SAVE THE SEALS
Russia, Japan and the United States
to Sign Treaty.
TO SUSPEND PELAGIC SEALING
Little Now Remains to Be
Done.
THE COMING CONFERENCE
THE COMING CONFERENCE

1t is expected that a treaty or conven-
tion between the United States, Russia and
Japan will be formally signed and executed
at the State Department during the pres
ent week carrying out the proposition be-
fore the Bering sea conference for sus-
pension Of pelagic sealing. The present
understanding is that, the signing of this
document will occur within the next few
days. 1t will represent the completed ef-
forts of the conference, and with the sign
ing concluded the conference will ad-
jourh.
The terms Of the treaty or convention
win follow the lines of the proposition con-
sidered by the conference and referred
with favorable recommendation to the au-
thorities at ST. Petersburg and Toxic. No
doubt existed as to the acceptance of the
Russian authorities, and it can now be
stated positively that the Japanese govern
ment has approved the proposition and
that the japanese delegates are prepared
to place their signatures to the treaty.
This clears away all obstacles and little
remains to be done beyond the formalities
attending the signing of such an instru-
ment.
The essential feature of the treaty or
convention is for the suspension of pelagic
sealing for such a period will permit
the seal herds to revive. The period of
this suspension is not disclosed One re-
port is. that it will be for one year, sub
ject to extension. Another is that it will
cover term of years, but the exact dura-
ton OF the suspension cannot be verified.
All that can be learned with definiteness
Is that the treaty is expected to be exc
cuted during the present week. and that 1t
will be on the original proposition before
the conference for suspension of pelagic
scaling.
The tripartite conference to devise means
for the preservation of the seals in the
North Pacific was resumed at the State
Department this morning, with a full at
tendance Of delegates from Russia, Japan
and the United States
The governments named agreed to sus-
pend pelagic sealing to limited extent,
and an effort will be made to induce Great
Britain to join in the agreement There
may be some difficulty, however, in ac-
complishing that much-desired result mas
much as pelagic sealing Is the rock upon
which the long-continued negotiations he
tween the United States and Great Britain
have Invariably split From The proceed
inSS of the tripartite conference 1t appears
that Russia and Japan have taken the side
of the United States in the controversy
just 1t was predicted would be the case
1t was Great Britain's belief in that re-
suit that caused her to decline to partici-
pate in a conference with any other gov
ernment than the United States on the
subject of the sealing industry.
The conference agreed upon between the
representatives of Great Britain, Canada
ard the United States to consider the re-
ports of the experts of the countries nam
ed, as to the condition and prospects Of
the industry, has not yet been finally ar
ranged. Prof. Thompson, the British rep
resentative, has been here several days
but so far Mr.. Macoun, the representative
of Canada, has not reported his arrival.