The record-union., 1897-11-07
PROTECTION Of SEALS.
THE RUSSO-JAPAN-AM
TREATY SIGNED.
Text Of the Convention Not to be
Made Public Until Final Rati-
fcations Are Exchanged.

WASHINGTON, Nov. Ga conven-
ton between the United States, Russia
and Japan looking to the joint protec-
ton of the seals was signed at the
State Department to-day at 1915 p
m. 1t will require the ratification OF
the Senate to become effective
The signing of the treaty took place
inthe large diplomatic room at the State
Department, and was attended by the
usual formality. The delegates of the
various Governments assembled an
hour and half before the hour ap-
pointed for the formal signing of the
document. and We're met by General
Foster. The preliminaries were dis
posed of, and the delegates were obliged
to leave the department for short Wis
it's to their legations to obtain seals and
papers of authorization that were nee
essary.
Finally, at noon all was ready and
led by General Foster, the delegates
passed into the diplomatic room and
took their places at the long tables
| There were present for the United
States Messrs Foster, Hamlin and Jor-
dan: for Russia De Wollant, Botkin
and Routkowsky, and for Japan, Mat
sui, Fulfil and Mitsikuri. Secretary
Sherman was not present as the Gov
ernment was fully represented.
After the treaty had been carefully
| inspected the signatures were attach
ed. The first signatures were those of
Messrs Foster, Hamin and Jordan. and
the others We're attached in order. ac-
cording to the particular copy Of the
document held by the delegates. There
We're three copies of this, one for each
nation represented, and the delegates
of each nation signed their own copy
first
The sealing of the documents was
attended TO by Mr. De Wollant, the
charge of the Russian Government. and
William G.. Wynne. an expert in this
line, who has sealed almost every
treaty negotiated here since the treaty
of Washington.
With the affixing of the seals in wax,
the forrnalities concluded. and there
was an exchange of concentrations
over the consummation of the work
The text of the treaty will not be
given out by the State Department un-
til final ratifications are exchanged AS
the document must go to the Senate
for it's approval. custom required that
it be withheld from publication in this
manner It is said. however. by those
concerned. that the general purposes of
the treaty have been already outlined
in the press. and it is likely that the
only further interest is as to the exact
nature Of the additional restrictions to
be imposed upon pelagic sealing.
Later in the afternoon the delegates
again assembled at the State Depart
ment and formally signed the proto-
co.'s or records of the various phases of
the negotiations leading up to the final
agreement.
1t is expected that the meeting of
British and American experts will take
place next week. according to the or
iginal programme. unless there should
be Intervention from the British For
eign Office. which is not anticipated
Meanwhile the British expert, Profes-
sor Thompson. who is now in Washing
ton, will be acquainted with what al
ready has been accomplished by the
Governments of the United States
Russia and Japan, and with the terms
of the treaty.