Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-22
| THE BRITISH Government
Anxious to Clear Up VexatiOu'
Questions

Anxious to Clear Up Vexatious
Questions
Now Pending With the United
States-The English Authorities
Wish to End Irritation Between
This Country and Canada, and
Has Taken the Initiative to That
End.
Washington, D. c., November 21.-
There is good reason to believe that
the British government will view with
favor the formation of commission 10
clear UP veXaJlous questions between
the United States and Canada. Thls
attitude will be important in the con-
summation of the commission plan, Tor
the best efforts of the United States
and Canada toward a. general settle
ment could come to nOught unless the
imperial government approved the eff
forts and stood ready to give them Of
fetal execution in the form of a treaty.
At first the sharp differences aroused
by the present Boring sea meeting led
to the belief that Great Britain might
stand in the way of a commission which
would discuss, among other questions,
such imperial subjects as the tariff
The British have been tenacious OF
holding the advantages secured by Can
ada's preferential British tariff and 1t
was thought the colonial office at Lon
don would
NOT VIEW WITH FAVOR
any movement by commission which
would disturb this preferential tariff.
1t appears, however, that the British
authorities are sincerely anxious to
close up the various irritating questions
which have long existed between Can
ada and the United States through the
medium of a commission or otherwise,
and that no idea is entertained that
when the commission dealt with the
imperial subject of the tariff, it would
involve any disturbance of the British
Canadian tariff relations. There are
said to be many articles, such as coal
and fish, which are not exchanged be-
tween Great Britain and Canada. On
such articles, therefore, any reciprocal
arrangement between the United States
and Canada would have no influence on
British trde with Canada. The home
government is said to be fully
CONSCIOUS OF THE ADVANTAGES
which Canada may secure in the ex-
tensive American markets to aid Can
ada in the enjoyment of reciprocal
trade with this country. Already the
British ambassador has been author
lied from Lond6n to begin negotiations
for reciprocity treaties between the
United States and the British West In
dian colonies. This is cited to show
the favor which the London authorities
eshibtas toward .ecnrIng the pest rectn-
rocal advantages for British colonies.
1t is said the same view would prevail
as to Canadin reciprocity. In any
event the work of a commission would
be preliminary only, and it would re-
main for the British government to
give it effect by formal treaty.
The subjects other than the tariff,
such as border immigration, fishing In
the great lakes, etc, are not of an i'm
perial character and concern only the
United States and Canada. In these, it
is said, Great Britain has no interest
whatever, except to see them settled
on terms
SATISFACTORY TO CANADA.
The lake fisheries have been a pro-
life source of trouble. 1t is claimed
that the fish of the lakes, particularly
white fish, are being eXterminated by
the laws of some of the States border
ing on the lakes. The destruction of
the fish is said to be analogous to the
destruction of the seals in Bering Sea,
and one of the subjects which Canada
would urge before the commission
would be the protection of the fish
cries of the lakes.
Prof. Darcy Thompson, the British
seal expert, having concluded his
labors here, left to-day for Toronto,
intending to reach New York in time
to take the Lucania for Liverpool
later in the week. His trip to Can
ada is personal and has no connection
with Boring Sea negotiations. Prof.
thompson expresses himself as well
pleased with the recent meeting Of ex-
perts and with the results arrived at.
Since the expert agreement was
reached protocol has been signed by
Mr. Hamlin, chairman of the expert
meeting, and by the secretaries. Mr..
Veening in behalf of Canada and Mr.
Clark in behalf of the United States.
This protocol sets forth
THE CIRCUMSTANCES
under which the meeting was held,
with the minutes of the proceedings,
and to some extent aids in the inter-
probation of the agreement by show
ing circumstances leading up to it.
Sir Julian Pauncefote. the British
Ambassador, has been confined to his
room for the last two weeks with a
return of his old ailment Of rheuma-
tism. 1t prevented his attendance at
the Boring Sea meetings, and In this
and all other affairs of the embassy
Mr.. Adam, first secretary, has been in
charge. In the meantime such ques-
tons as reciprocity with the British
West Indies. the general arbitration
treaty, etc, have been in allegiance,
but they are likely to come up Tor dis
cussion with the authorities here as
soon as Sir Julian is fully recovered.
A NEW ALASKAN LINE.