The herald., 1897-11-20
Informed of the Results of
Laurier's Visit
COMMISSIONERS ARE COMING
TO CONTINUE THE WORK so
WELL BEGUN
The Cessation of Pelagic Sealing for
Which Negotiations Are in Pro-
gress Seems Reasonable
Associated Press Special Wire.

AoScCidlC0 A-EesS OpeCldl w lf0s
OTTAWA, Ont, Nov. 19-Sir Wilfrid
Laurier and Sir Louis Davis have re-
turned from Washington. Within a
couple of hours after their arrival a
meeting of the Cabinet was held, at
which the Premier explained the re-
cent negotiations with President Nc
Kinley and his Ministers. AS result
of this, it is stated the Cabinet has de-
ton, composed Of men fasQiliar with the
various questions involved, to meet
with a similar body of men appointed
on behalf of the United States, with exc
Secretary Foster at it's head, and en-
deavor to reach settlement on all
boundary and other questions at pres~
ent at issue between the two countries.
CANADA'S PROPOSAL
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-The dis~
patches from Ottawa announcing that
the Canadian cabinet has decided to send
a commission to Washington to nego-
tiate with similar commission to be
appointed by the United States govern
ment to consider all 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 exact proposition that was laid
before the Canadian contingent, who
were in Washington q few days ago.
1t can now be stated that the proposal
of Mr.. Foster, representing the United
States, which the Canadian officials took
home with them to submit to their coun-
Gil, was:
First-That both nations agree at once
to q suspension of all killing of seals
during the next season in the Pacific
ocean and Bering sea, the modus to GO
into operation the first of next month.
Second-That representatives of the
two 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 view to the
settlement by treaty of all differences.
So far the state department has not
been advised that the Canadian council
has acted upon the propositions, but
that an early answer is expected is evil
denced by the fact that the date set for
the beginning of the modus stopping the
killing of the seals is no later than the
first Of next month.
One important fact that is not clearly
disclosed in the Canadian dispatch is
that the modus must be agreed upon pos
itively before our government consents
to the commission. In other words there
must be no killing of seals while the COM
mission is at work
Tho oor,,,, lee; ,,,iobt ooo,,,,1r n Lowe
time in it's deliberations, and if pelagic
scaling is to go on meanwhile, it is be-
lieved by our experts that there will be
no seals left to serve as a basis for ne
gotiations. The proposition of our gov
ernment having been so explicitly
stated, it may be understood that the an
nouncement of the purpose of the Cana
dians to appoint commission implies
that they have decided to accept the
premise, namely, the agreement upon a
modus vivendi Nothing has yet been
done toward arranging the details of the
commissions work, should one be agreed
upon.
Mr.. Foster and Mr.. Kasson and prob
ably Mr.. Hamlin will be on our side, and
owing to the nature and complexity Of
the questions that will come before the
commission under the liberal permissive
clause, other members might be required
in the nature of experts in particular
lines, such as the fisheries, reciprocity,
labor, immigration questions, 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 commis-
sioners. and in all probability that Sir
Wilfrid Laurier shall be associated with
the ambassador on the commission. This
choice Of the British ambassador is sig
nificant as showing the purpose of the
government to fully recognize the impe-
rial character of the negotiations and to
conduct them only through the author-
lied representatives of the British gov-
ernment.
Up to the present time there has been
no intimation of how the British govern
ment views the formation of a commits
sion.
A member Of the British embassy was
present at the meeting at Mr.. Fosters
house when the matter of commission
was discussed. His attendance was un-
official and not as q representative Of
the British government.
The Cattle Quarantine
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 19.-Dr. D. d.