The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-01
The CONFERENCE ON SEALS.
II is 10 b. Held the Third or Fourth
Week In October.
SPANS MINISTRY IN DIRE DISTRESS.
The Cuban War VIII Close when Funds
Give Out-A War with the United
States Her Only saIyation-London
Spectator Displays its Ignorance,


expressed In official and mercantile cir
cles at the prospective settlement of the
seal question by aid OF the Washington
conference especially as such an arrange
ment will remove u cause Of hot discus
sion between the United States and Great
Britain. Although at the outset of Mr..
Fosters Journey diplomatists and news
papers here ridicule tho idea that there
was anything necessary TO be done. Am
bassador Hay and Mr.. Foster have COM
petcly changed this view, and Great Brit
ain is finally doing everything possible to
meet the views Of the United tsates.
Doubtless this Is partly owing to the sup
port Mr. Fosters idea received from Rus
sia and Canada. Sir Wilfrid Laurier
and Mr.. Davies have all along favored
conciliatory attitude toward the proposals
Of the United States.
MEETS IN OCTOBER.
The conference will meet in the third
or fourth week in October. the exact date
being left 10 be determined by the arrival
OF the British experts from the sealing
grounds
Great Britain will be represented by
Sir Julian Pauncefote. the Ambassador,
and Professor Darcy Thompson. The
United States will probably he represented
by John w Foster, Japan by the japanese
Minister at Washington. and Russia by
commission headed by DR.. Martens. pro-
fessor of International Law at the Uni
versity of st. Petersburg, who was dele
gated by Russia TO hold the pour parlor
with Mr.. Foster. Canada will be rep
resented by Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Mr..
Davies.
The conference will discuss the whole
question as raised by the United States,
will draft a scheme Of protection for the
seals, with details for carrying out the
same. and will decide all open claims.
It's report will be adopted referendum
but as Russia and Japan are entirely IA
forable to the pretensions Of the United
States and as Great Britain Is indifferent
so long as Canada is satisfied, the confer
ence may be said TO be diplomatic tri-
rrnnb for the United States and per-
sonal triumph for Mr.. Foster. Unless II
results I'm a divided report. which is not
expected. the governments concerned VIII
Immediately embody the scheme In n
nermanent agreement. either in the form
of an agreement or memorandum
that It can be executed in the season Of
1898.
IN 4 TIGHT PLACE.
A Spanish diplomatist who is In close
touch with Senor CanOvas Del Caistin'
the Spanish premier. informs the CORES
pondent of the Associated Press mat II Is
useless longer to attempt to dies1ise the
fact that the Spanish roinistry IS in
verv tieht place. lio s7vs
1--WE can keep up the war in Cuba only
so long as our funds last. and the time
when they may fail IS almost in sight.
"When II comes we must give up the
struggle Now. we are too proud a race
10 do so at anybody's demand. But We
can do so by pleading force maieure in
war with the United States.
"Such result naturally would he very
unpleasant to US; but in order TO pre-
vent a revolution I'm Spain and the over
thow Of he monarchy, war is the only
way out
"The Premier knows from President
Mckinley direct that the President per-
sonally does no. want war and wishes 10
save MS from the cost and hloodshed.
But his Cabinet only partly shares his
views. while the Senate. the House Of
Representatives. the American press and
the people OF the United states favor a
settlement with big guns"
President Mckinley however. while first
in peace. has declared himself MS not
shrinking from war. This is his posi-
ton and naturally lends strength 10 the
Independent course which General Wood
ford will pursue. His instructions will
be at the outset 10 attempt 10 obtain for
Cuba the peaceful means Of Cuban in
dependence. He IS said TO he defeated
in his proposal the moment - IS made
for Spain would infinitely prefer war.
with or without the announcement Of
other nations, to any surrender on the
Cuban question.
WILL COURT WAR.
This is the fact, and the Premier sees
no other way out Of the present impasse
in Spanish politics. lie will court war
the moment the United States becomes
imperative in its demands.
The wave Of great emotion and Datriot-
ism sucn as war would call out in Spain
would naturally sink all threatening do
nestle questions and disturbances. The
Carlsts, Republicans. and all others
would unite for the nation as they could
be united by nothing else, ami when de-
feated, If Spain should be defeated. Cuba
could be sIrren6erci without imperiling
all present political and monarchical insti-
tutions.'
The engineers dispute has apparently
masters and men are unyieldlng. The
formers position has been strengthened
by the fact that the NORTHAMPTON cycle
employers have Joined the employers Fed
Grafton and iss1ed lockout uot.,es &c %
per cent. Of their employees. The engi-
neers have responded by calling out the
other rs per cent The masters held "a
meeting on Wednesday and declared that
they were more than ever determined TO
resist the action of the engineers. 1t is
also announced on the contrary. by
trade union statements not signed, that
member Of the employers Federation, in
the vicinity Of London had yielded 10 the
demand for an eight-hour day.
A GLOOMY ARTICLE.
The Spectator. in a gloomy article en-
titled "Aggressions Of American Wealth."
refers TO the retirement Of President An
drews from Brown University and Presi-
dent Bemis, from Chicago University
saying:
I'VE can scarcely escape the conclusion
that q conspiracy exists among the
heads of trusts In America to interfere
with the freedom Of teaching in the Uni
versitics so far as economic questions are
concerned in order that nothing shall be
uttered which has not received the
trademark Of monopolist approval"
The paper pictures the Americans as
reduced almost to the situation OF Russia
by tho censorship OF wealthy magnateS
over the universities and says:
Capitalists have subsidized the pulpits,
bought up the press, seated well paid at
tornevs i'm the Senate, and finally have
stretchcd their hands out TO the colleges