The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-09
JOHN BULL STUBBORN.
Great Britain's iolicy Dictated by
Canada and India.
TWO IMPORTANT REQUESTS NEGATED
Boring Sea aud Bimetallic Confer.
ences Declined.
RUSSIA AND JAPAN IGNORED.
The Dominion Government Controls
the English Policy in American
Anairs-Two Conferences.
RUSSIA AND JAPAN IGNORED.


Tribune from London says: The British
governments answer TO the proposals OF
the United States and Franco for bmetal.
ism by International agreement will prob
ably be ready within a fortnight, Possibly
1t will be ready even earlier. as there 10
every evidence that the ministers are dis
turbed by the prolongation OF the contro-
versy over the monetary question In the
press and wish to put an end to ii.
Two months ago they were strongly dis
posed to make such concessions to the
United States and France as would have
enabled those powers to convoke a none
tary conference. Sir Michael Hicks Beach
obtained from the governor OF the Bark
of England qualified assent to the con
version into silver OF one-fifth Of the re-
serve for the redemption OF the notes OF
issue The Indian government was also
consulted respecting the expediency OF re-
opening the mints to the free coinage OF
silver II the answer to that proposition
had been as favorable as the reply of the
governor OF the Bank OF England on the
minor point Of larger use OF silver in the
| reserves 1t would have been completely
successful in opening the way for new
session of the conference.
That answer has not been officially re-
vealed, but 1t has been received in London
and is considered in diplomatic circles to
be unfavorable to reopening the Indian
minis. Not one word OF this has yet APP
peared in print and no Official conhrma-
tion of 1t can be obtained. but II Is cur
rently reported among the best informed
| financiers that the Indian government has
advised against reopening OF the minis.
! If this be true. and there are strong rea-
sons for believing IL is, the ministers will
not have the courage to act against the
advice of the Indian government but will
summon the French and American ambas-
! sadoIs and the bimetalllc ENJOYS without
! delay and return a courteous but firm an
swer to the proposals for an international
agreement for the maintenance OF the par
value OF gold and silver.
Canada and Great Britain have refused
definitely to take part in a sealing confer
ence If representatives of Russia and ia
pan are allowed to participate in it. This
matter was settled yesterday and can not
be reopened
When the diplomatic correspondence Is
published it will be evident that the state
department has done everything in Its
power to enable Canada and Great Britain
10 attend conference which was declared
to be purely consultative and which would
have had no binding force upon any mari
time power taking part in it. Canada has
interposed her veto and Great Britain,
who. on this question has no will OF her
own, has sanctioned 1t. Lord Salisbury.
having revised the original invitation of
last July at the instance OF Canada now
follows the Ottawa government in declin-
ing to meet Russia. Japan and the United
States in friendly conference for de-
| termining whether anything can be done
for the protection OF the fur seal herd. No
reasonable objection could be offered TO
the presence Of the Russian and Japanese
representatives, but Canada has adopted
dlfferential tariff In favor OF British
manufactures and her caprlces suffice 10
control the diplomacy Of the foreign office
on more questions. American ambassadors
are still sent to London In Difference to
old time usages. They might. with more
propriety. be accredited to Ottawa, where
English diplomacy on American questions
really has its origin.
The holding of the second conference is
question which will depend on the scien-
tifc information produced before the first
conference. II 1t be true that so per cent
of the seal skins coming into this marke /
show gunshot holes and that the bulk OF
them are the furs of female seals. the
speedy extinction Of the herd can not be
long deferred. II 1t be true that there are
now only 100000 seals breeding on the seal
| Islands or on other grounds where were
once several million Of them, the herd has
already lost it's commercial value and
nothing short OF the absolute prohibition
OF peIagic fisheries for a decade or longer
: will restore II. second conference GER
J tainly will be superfluous II Canada be I'M
, willing to allow the suspension Of pelagc
sealing.
! Manchester, October s.--The members o