New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-10
"MISTRESS IN HER OWN"
OUR LADY OF THE SHOWS DICTATES
BRITAIN's SEALING POLICY.
IR. CHAMBERLAIN's INFLUENCE PARAMOUNT IN
THE BEHRING SEA DIsPUTE-LADY SAILS
BURYs ILLNEss-THE RUIN OF THE
o.. SUGAR IsLANDs-ENGIISH INTER
EST IN THE GREATER NEW
YORK CAMPAIGN--MUsI-
CAL AND THEAT-
NOTES
tBY CABLE TO TIE TRIBUNE.l

IBY CABLE TO TIE TRIBUNE.l
London. Oct. 9.-The comments Of the English
press the deadlock in regard to the sealing
conference amusing to any one who knows
what Is going behind the scenes. Starting
with the assumption that the idea OF inviting
Russia and Japan was an afterthought on the
part OF the State Department designed to draw
England and Canada into a conference In which
they would be outvoted, the Underwriters conf
mend LorG Salisbury for repusing the latest
pretenson OF Washington diplomacy. and ad-
wise Secretary Sherman 10 find a way out OF MS
self-created difficulty as best he can. This COLI
clusion is based inaccurate premise, for
which Lord Salisbury is responsible. II he had
printed in the Blue Book, as he ought to have
done. Ambassador Hays letter Of July 20 in
reply to his own equivocal acceptance OF tho
invitation to the conference. the English press
would never have assumed that the participa-
ton Of Russia and Japan was an afterthought
or a bit Of Yankee sharp practice. This letter
was suppressed. and the English press, having
been mised at the outset, olings 70 a false
premise for the sake OF consistency and because
II does not like to confess that the Foreign
Office takes its orders from Ottawa on ques-
tons of American diplomacy.
Lord Salisbury ought not. however. TO %
charged with disngenuousness or bad faith.
His heart is not in diplomacy now, for his VIE
is in falling health. and he seldom goes 10 ths
Foreign Office. He takes the advice OF Mr'
Chamberlain on all questions In when the
colonies are concerned and that statesman CON-
siders it necessary 10 allow Canada to have her
own way in diplomacy relating to the Behring
Sea fisheries Indeed. no English Foreign MIN
lister would venture to affront Canada In the
face Of the differental tariff in favor of British
manufacturers. and after the example set which
all the merchants and traders of the united
Kingdom hope will be followed py all the col
onies.
The plain facts Of the situation which tho
State Department and Americans generally will
do we'll to re ,gnize are: First. that the con-
troll OF the British policy on the sealing ques-
ton has passed out Of the hands of the Foreign
Office into those of the Canadian Ministers; and.
secondly. that Canada. having already nearly
completed the destruction of the seal fisheries.
would like to have the United States buy out
her fishing rights and fleet at high price. Evil
IDENTIFY it is futile for the Washington Govern
ment to continue negotiations on the fisheries
question with the Foreign ONCE, when the power
of initiating new directing old policies is not
there but in Ottawa. Such negotiations only
cause irritation at the Foreign Office, where
nroud-spirted dlplomatist like Lord Salisbury
docs NOT like to admit that he is not the mas
ter OF British diplomacy in every detail. ana
where every Under Secretary and official feels
that Canada is an over-rduged child. who has
passed beyond maternal control and discipline.
England, with her great furdyeing and fur'
DIRE ssing ndu ustry would have offered no objec'
ton on her own account TO the proposed con-
ference OF maritime Powers for considering
measures for the preservation of the herd but
Canada has dragged her out OF the conference
for her own purposes, and Will retain IN future
full control OF the British policy on the fisheries
question. The British statesman who has real
influence in this matter is Mr.. Chamberlain.
whose remedy for existing evils, whether in the
neglected estates of the Empire or in lnterna-
tional controversies. is always judicious In
ves,ment Of money. With his fine commercial
instinct he would probably suggest that the
shortest way out OF the diplomatic entangle-
ment is the purchase of the Canadian fisheries
rights by the United States. Whether the fish,
cries still have a commercial value after the
long period OF Canadian devastation is point
upon which the American Government can sat-
isfy itself, after the conference with Russia and
Japan.
The probabilities still. point strongly toward
an unfavorable answer from the British Gov
errment to the monetary proposals OF the
United States and France. The advice or the
Indian offcills is understood to be against re-
opening the nlints. although they are not unani-
nous on the subject. The position OF indian
finances is now critical and Is causing great
uneasiress. After a year OF plague, famine, In"
ternal disturbance and costly frontier warfare.
India is now impoverished and exhausted and
in no condition bear fresh burdens OF taxa
ton or reductions Of administrative and MILF
tary expenses. y positive financial policy 10
needed, for if the Indian mlnts are not re-
opened the gold standard ought 20 be tried as
an alternative course and few monometallists
are bold enough to recommend so radical a step.
Indian officials perceive that the moment the
mnts are re)pened to silver they will lose heavi-
ly by exchange in making their remttances to
England, and they are afraid to face the stua-
ton III they were to look more deeply into the
matter they might find compensating advan-
tages for losses iE exchange. The reopening OF
the mints. il az ,ompanied by an international
monetary agreement would not only he real
relief measure 70. the native population. with
its vast boards of silver. but would also raise
the value of the white metal.
Sir Michael Hicks Beach is comforting this
week with Senator Wolcott. and the answer
to the proposals Of the American and French
Governments cannot be deferred many days.
The Ministers here. like the official fnancers
of India. are sorely perplsxei and divided In
on,nion. realizing fully the critical state Of az.
fairs vet lacking the courage for resoute ana
decisive action Meanwhile. gold exports TO
America are again setting In. and a speedy In
crsase Of the bank rat, to 3,s per cent is prob
able.
The Jubilee year is indeed ending with the
nor,,or c,oudirg In every quarter. In india
there is a financial crisis. and In the West
rnd,.s ruin IL impending The report OF the
roval commission with Sir Henry Norman's
rinor,ty recommendation In favor OF counter
vai,,nr sugar duties, continues to attract at.
,ention. There are many protests from the
nress AGAINST the sacrifice OF once rich and