Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-11-13
lAURIER'S MISSION.

me canadian Premier and Members OF
Ills Cabinet Arrive at the National CAM.
tai, Ostcnsbly to Consider the Bchrinc
Sea Question, but Really TO Seek Settle.
mcnt OF Many Embarrassing Matters oi
Long Standing.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9.-The authori-
ties here have been advised that the
arrival to-day of Sir Wilfred Laurier,
premier OF Canada; Sir Louis Davies,
MINISTER of marine in the Laurier cab
met and other officials of the Domin.
loH' Is to have an important bearing
not only on the Behring sea settle.
ihent, but on all the pending questions
which have been sources of interna.
tlonal complication between the
United States and Canada-namely:
lhe passage OF alien laborers to and
from Canada the North Atlantic fish
cries question; the presence of many
Americans i'll the Klondilfe territory
belonging to Canada and in the mining
regions of British Columbia, the fish
erles trouble along the great lakes; the
bonding privilege granted Canadian
railroads; the controversy over rights
III the Fraser river, British Columbia,
anu IN the Puget Sound, and also the
question OF reciprocity arrangement
between the United States and Canada,
There is direct and definite informa.
tIon that Sir Wilfrid comes prepared to
take up all these questions, and, if
possible, include them in one general
settlement whereby the constant fric-
ton they have engendered may be
overcome.
On some of these subjects he will
confer with Presi dent Mckinley, and
on at least one Of them, that relating
TO alien laborers cross ng the border,
he will suggest such mutual modihca
ton of present restrictions as in his
opinion will be of material advantage
to the thousands of Americans now in
the klondikc and British Columbia
mining country and at the same time
Will be of advantage to Canada along
the eastern border.
The essential features of Sir Wilfrcd's
mission were communicated to the off
elals by person, fully advised of
the premier'S plans, and it can be said
that the suggestion that the decks be
cleared of existing disputes between
Canada and the United States met with
the favor of the administration. While
the Behring sea settlement occasioned
the visit of the Canadian premier, the
Canadian authorities attach much less
Importance to it than they do to the
other questions mentioned. They say
that the Canadian sealing is confined
almost entirely to the far west terri
tory, where the sealers fit out, and
that even there considerable per-
centage of the so-called Canadian Seal
ers sail from Seattle, San Francisco
and other ports, who fit out in Cana
dian ports under the British flag.
What basis Of settlement can be
reached is not disclosed, but little
doubt, it is said, is felt by the Cana
dians that an amicable adjustment can
be made. Among the plans suggested
is that of an indemnity large enough
to permit Canada to buy out the seal
ers and retire them from business.
With this done, the United States,
Russia, Japan, Great Britain and Can
ada would act together in suppression
OF pclagic scaling There is no deter
mination, however, to advance this
plan in preference to others, and the
scope of the settlement will remain in
doubt until the negotiations open.