Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-09-29
SLY, WICKED JINCOES.'
SALISBURY KNEW THE ARRANGEMENT.


New York. Sept. ga dispatch to
the Tribune from London says:
The English press In discussing the
hitch which has arisen in the negotla-
tions for the seal conference, assumes
that the idea of inviting Russia and
Japan was an afterthought on the part
of the Washington government. The
state department is charged with at
tempting to enlarge the inquiry by
drawing Russia and Japan into 1t
when Lord Salisbury had specifically
agreed to the conference restricted to
an exchange of views among the
American. British and Canadian ex-
perts.
ASSUMPTIONS WITHOUT FOUN-
DATION
These assumptions are entirely with
out foundation. When Mr.. Foster re-
turned from st. Petersburg last sum
NOR, Russia had agreed to confer
encc. Before Lord Salisbury wrote his
dispatch ON July IS there had been
several conferences at the foreign of
nee and the desire of the state depart
ment that both Russia and Japan
should be Included was plainly indi-
Gated. The Russia ambassador In Lon
bury on the subject at the foreign Of
flee. MI. Foster had a conference with
Mr.. Chamberlain and Sir MILFORD
Luurier in which the scope Of the pro-
posed meeting was fully discussed. The
Japanese minister also interested him
self In the question. For month
preceding July S no secret was made of
the fact that the United States govern
ment had invited Russia and Japan to
take part in the conference and was
anxious to have Great Britain and
Cannda cooperate In the movement.
journals that the proposal to include
Russia and Japan was an afterthouGht
Tor the sake of entraping Great Britain
and Canada into the conference In
which they could be outyoted, is as
baseless as the fantastic idea that
American diplomacy has devised a
fresh expedient for giving the lions
tail another twist
ENGLAND WANTED TO HEDGE"
The truth is that the minister of the
foreign office understood perfectly the
broad scope of the conference to which
England has been invited along with
Russia and Japan, but accepted the
proposal in a guarded way SO that h.
could object to the presence of repre-
sentntives of those powers If he chose
to do so.
Ambassador Hay was. however,
equal TO the emergency. for in per-
feCtiy courteous letter of acknowledge
ment, dated July 90. he reminded Lord
Salisbury that as had been intimated
all along, the Russian and Japanese
representatives would attend the con-
ference. when Lord Salisbury decid-
ed. in September, to object to the pres
enCe of these representatives., II was
because pressure had been brought to
bear upon him from Canada and not
l.. hnF had a of
thought or Yankee trick at Washing
ton MS ill-informed critics here hastily
assume. Lord Salisbury left the bridge
open for his retreat, but 1t Is not n
foregone conclusion that he will cross
II and break up the conference. on the
contrary, it is probable that an inter-
national conference will be arranged.
CONFERENCE NOT TO BE BIND
ING.
It is understood in diplomatic circles
that the latest communications from
Secretary Sherman on the subject have
been felcitously phrased and have
produced an excellent effect at the for
eipn office.
What WAS needed was tact and II
has not been lacking. England and
Canada will probably be left at liberty
send delegates to the conference, with
the understanding that they cannot be
outyoted or committed to any definite
policy and that they can retire from
1t whenever they choose to do so. The
conference will be purely consultative.
1t will supply scientific information
which will be useful in determining
the general question of the best
measures requisite for the protection
of the last fur seal herd on the face of
the waters, 1t will have no binding
force upon any nation represented in
the delegations. The attitude of the
American government is so reasonable
that IT is probable the conference will
be held on the original lines after the
foreign office has provided adequate
evidence for future publication in blue
books that 1t has not been coerced or
bullied or entrapped by sly, wicked
LIMOGES" in America.