The record-union., 1897-09-30
The Premier Knew That Russia and japan
Had Been Invited.
The Matter Had Been Frequently
Discussed Between Mr. Foster
and the British Foreign Office
Before Lord Salisbury Wrote
His Dispatch on July Twenty
Eighth.

LONDON. Sept. y. = The EngllSh
press, in discussing the hitch which has
arisen in the negotiations for the seal
conference, assumes that the idea of in
viting Russia and Japan was an after
thought on the part Of the Washington
Government. The State Department is
charged with attempting to enlarge the
inquiry by drawing Russia and Japan
into it, when Lord Salisbury had spe-
cifcally agreed to a conference re-
stricted to an exchange Of views among
the American, British and Canadian ex-
perts.
These assumptions are entirely with
out foundation. When Mr.. Foster re-
turned from ST. Petersburg last sum-
mer Russia had agreed to conference.
Before Lord Salisbury wrote his dis
patch on July 2Sth there had been sew
eral conferences at the Foreign Office,
and the desire of the State Department
that both Russia and Japan should be
included was plainly indicated The
Russian ambassador in London had an
interview with Lord Salisbury on the
subject at the Foreign Office. Mr..
Foster had a conference with Mr..
Chamberlain and Sir Wilfred Laurier,
in which the scope of the proposed
meeting was fully discussed. The Jap
anese Minister also interested himself
in the question. For month preceding
July 2Sth no secret was made Of the
fact that the United States Govern
ment had invited Russia and Japan to
to lQe part in the conferences and was
anxious to have Great Britain and Can
ada cooperate in the movement. The
assumption of certain English journals
that the proposal to include Russia and
Japan was an afterthought for the sake
of entrapping Great Britain and Can
ada into a conference in which they
would be outvoted is as baseless as the
fantastic idea that American diplomacy
has devised a fresh expedient for giving
the lions tail another twist.
The truth is that the master of the
Foreign Office understood perfectly the
broad scope of the conference to which
England had been invited along with
Russia and japan. but accepted the
proposal in a guarded way so that he
could object to the presence of repre-
sentatives of those two Powers If he
chose to do SO.
Embassador Hay, however, was equal
to the emergency, for in a perfectly
courteous letter of acknowledgment
dated July 29th he reminded Lord Sails
bury that, as had been intimated all
along, the Russian and Japanese rep
resentatives would attend the confer
ence. When Lord Salisbury decided in
September to object to the presence of
these representatives, it was because
pressure had been brought to bear upon
him from Canada and not because
there had been any afterthought or
Yankee trick at Washington as ill-in-
formed critics here hastily assume.
Lord Salisbury left the bridge open for
his retreat, but it is not a foregone con-
clusion that he will cross it and break
is probable that an international meet
ing will be arranged.
1t is understood in diplomatic circles
that the latest communications from
Secretary Sherman on the subject have
been felicitiously phrased and have
produced an excellent effect at the For
eign Office What was needed was tact,
and it has not been lacking. England
and Canada will probably be left at lib
erty to send delegates to the confer
ence, with the understanding that they
cannot be outvoted or committed to any
definite policy, and that they can retire
from it whenever they choose to do So
The conference will be purely consulta-
tive 1t will supply scientific informa-
ton which will be useful in determining
the general question of the best means
requisite for the protection of the last
fur seal herd on the face of the waters
It will have no binding force upon any
nation represented in the delegations.
The attitude of the American Gov
ernment is so reasonable that it is
probable the conference viii be held on
the original lines after the Foreign Of
flee has provided adequate evidence for
future publication in blue books that it
has not been coerced or bullied or en-
trapped by the sly, wicked jingees in
America.