The Portland daily press., 1897-11-22
GREAT BRITAIN APPROVES
FayOrs Commission To Settle Cana
dian Border Question.
ANXIOUS THAT IRRITATING
ISSUES BE CLOSED.

Treaty Between British West India
Colonies Being Negotiated-Canadians
Likely to Ask For Protection of Fish
in the Great Lakes.
Washington, November 21.-There is
good reason to believe that the British
government will view with favor the
formation Of commission to clear up
vexatious questions between the United
States and Canada. 1t appears that the
British authorities are sincerely anxious
to close up the various irritating questions
which have long existed between Canada
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 I'M
perial subject of the tariff it would IN
volve any disturbance of the BRUSH
Canadian tariff relations.
There are said to be many articles, such
as coal and fish, which are not exchanged
between Great Britain and Canada. On
such articles therefore any reciprocal ar
rangement between the United States
and Canada would have no influence on
British trade with Canada. There is
j understood to be every desire to aid
| Canada in the enjoyment of reciprocal
trade with this country. Already the
British ambassador has been authorized
from London to begin negotiations for
reciprocity treaties between the United
States and the British West Indian
colonies. This is cited to show the favor
which the London authorities exhibit to
ward securing the best reciprocal ad-
vantages for British colonies. 1t is said
the same view would prevail as to
Canadian reciprocity
| In any event the work of comm lsSlon
would be preliminary only and it would
remain for the British government to
| give 1t effect by formal treaty.
| The subjects other than the tariff, such
| as border immigration, fishing in the
! Great Lakes, etc., are not OF an Imperial
| character and concern only the United
States and Canada Tho lake fisheries
have been prolific source of trouble. 1t
| is claimed that the fish of the lakes, par
| ticularly white fish are being exterminated
| by the lax laws of some of the states
| bordering the lakes. The destruction Of
| the fish is said to be analogous to the de-
struction of the seals in Bering sea, and
| one Oh Gn0 SuDJ0CUS Wulcu Odueud Wouiu
| urge before the commission would be the
protection of the fisheries of the lakes.
| Prof. Darcy Thompson, the British
seal expert, having concluded his labors
here left today for Toronto, intending to
reach New York in time to take the
| Lucania for Liverpool later in the week.
| Since the expert agreement was reached
protocol has been signed by Mr.. Ham
| lin, chairman of the expert meeting and
the two secretaries, Mr.. Venning in be-
half 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 TIE
| Interpretation of the agreement by show
| ing all the circumstances leading up to it.
| Sir Julian Paunoefote, the British am
| bassador has been confined to his room
| for the last two weeks with return Of
his old ailment, the rheumatism. In the
meantime such questions as reciprocity
with the British West Indies, the general
arbitration treaty, ETC., have been in
abeanoe but they are likely to come up
for discussion with the authorities here as
soon as Sir Julian Ia fully recovered.