The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-11-25
A CANADIAN COMMISSION.
WILL BE SENT TO WASHINGTON TO
NEGOTIATE WITH AMERICAN
COMMISSIONERS.
SEAL KILLING 70 Be SUSPENDED
Pending Negotiations Was United
States PrOpOsition-Other Cues
lions to BE Settled-Cabinet
Meeting Discussed Cuba.

Washington, Nov. 19.-The dispatches
from Ottawa announcing that the Can
adam cabinet had decided to send a COM
mission to Washington to negotiate with
similar commission to be appointed by
the United States government touching
all the questions at issue between the
United States and Canada, has had the
important effect of drawing forth here
for the first time a statement of the ex-
act propositions that were laid before
the Canadian contingent when they were
in Washington few days ago. 1t can
now be said that the proposal of Mr.
Foster, representing the United States
government, which the Canadians took
home with them to submit TO their
council, was:
| First-That both nations agree nj onca
to suspension of all killing of seals dur
ing the next season In the Pacific ocean
and Boring sea, the modus vivendi to 90
into operation on the first of next month.
Second-The representatives of the
governments of the United States and
Great Britain, including Canada, be
designated to enter with as little delay
as possible upon the consideration of
all unsettled questions between Canada
and the United States with a view to a
settlement by treaty, and include the
sealing question and any other matters
Wnlch either government may choose to
bring forward.
SO far the state department has NOT
been advised that the Canadian council
has acted upon the propositions, but an
early answer Is expected, as Is evidenc-
ed by the fact that the dates set for the
beginning of the modus stopping the kill
ing of the seals is no later than the first
Of next month. One important fact
that is not clearly disclosed in the
Canadian dispatches is that the modus
be agreed upon before our government
consents. to the commission. In other
words, there must be no more killing of
seals while the commission is at work.
Inc commission might occupy long
sealing is to go on meanwhile, it is be-
lieved by our experts that there will be
no seals to serve as basis for negotia-
lions. The proposition of our govern
ment having been so explicitly stated, it
may be understood that the announce
ment of the purpose of the Canadians
| TO appoint commission applies that
they have decided to accept the proposal,
| namely, the agreement upon a modus.
Nothing has yet been done towards ar
ranging the details of the commissions
work, should one be agreed upon. Prob
ably MessIs. Foster and Kasson, and
possibly Mr.. Hamlin, will be on our side,
and in order that the nature and COM
n he
come before the commission under the
liberal permissive clause other members
might be required in the nature of ex-
perts in particular lines, such as fisher
les, reciprocity, labor immigration Ques-
lions, mining and timber issues, and such
matters.
A definite feature of the proposed COM
mission is that Sir Julian Pauncefote.
the British ambassador, shall be at the
head of the British-Canadian commits
sioners, and in all probability Sir Will
fred Laurier should be associated with
the ambassador on the commission. This
choice of the British ambassador is sig
nihcant as showing the purpose of this
government to fully recognize the i'm
perial character of the negotiations and
to conduct them only through the au-
thorized representatives of the British
government. The dispatches from OF
taWa fail to state this fact, and to that
extent are said to be misleading. There
can be no Canadian commission, and no.
body representing Canada can conduct
negotiations with the United States gov
This was fully recognized dur
ng the recent meetings, and it took form
n the propositions submitted. At least
,ne of these propositions distinctly states
hat the arrangement for the commission
hall be made between the government
,fhclals of her Britannia majesty and
he United States, and that the British
ambassador should be at the head of
he commission representing the British
American side. /