The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-30
IT'S SOMEWHAT MIXED
Reciprocity With the British Col
onies Complicated.
WILL CANADA BE IN 1T
There Seems to Be No Present Prospect
of the Reopening of Negotia-
tons for British American
Treaty of Arbitration.

Washington, Dec. 29.-Sir Julian
Pauncefote. the British ambassador,
has about recovered from a long and
/ painful attack of rheumatism, which
| has kept him in bed for good part
! of the last three months The fact that
| he was able to call at the state de-
partment yesterday led to reports that
coincident with Lord Salisbury's decli-
nation of the proposition to stop pelagic
| sealing, Sir Julian had renewed reel
| procity negotiations. His call, how
ever, has no significance. as Sir Julian
| did not know of Lord Salisbury's an
| swer at the time he visited the state
/ department AS to the reciprocity ne
| gotiations, they have progressed stead
| lily through Mr.. Adam, first secretary
of the embassy, and Sir Julian will now
be able to give the matter his personal
attention. The main desire of the l;rlt-
ish West Indian colonies is to secure
the 20 per cent reciprocity on sugar.
What will be offered in exchange has
not yet been determined
AT the outset the purpose of the nego-
| tiations was confined to the British
West Indies, but the present indications
are that efforts will be made to include
Canada among the colonies receiving
the advantages of reciprocity How far
tiIS Gull De uoHe, III View OF tne IdlIuTc
or the Boring sea negotiations, is not
clear. but it is probable that the Brit
ish government will prefer to have the
negotiations embrace all the colonies
including Canada--instead of repeating
the action, when the last reciprocity
treaties We're framed, of confirming them
to the West Indies
In this connection, it may be stated
that Mr.. Kasson, the special plenipo-
Tertiary commissioner of the United
States, charged with the conduct of the
negotiation of reciprocity arrangements
and treaties under the tariff act has
not undertaken to consider the subject
of reciprocity with Canada. This alb
stention on the part of Mr.. Kasson is
attributable to the fact that the subject
OF reciprocity, pure and simple, as con-
tanned in the tariff act. has become so
involved with the seal question and
other issues as to become practically
inseparable from them. and the entire
subject of Canadian relations appears
to remain in the control of eX-Secretary
Foster
1t has been expected that the recov-
cry of Sir Julian would permit active
steps on the British American treaty
of arbitration. There is no present pros
pect, however, that anything will be
done on that subject and up to this
time no negotiations have been opened
between the ambassador and the state
signified a favorable attitude toward re-
opening negotiations. but the British
government will take no step whatever
until a definite assurance is at hand.
that such treaty as may be beneficial
will become operative. 1t is said that
the answer of Lord Salisbury on the
Boring sea question, which has been
briefly reported by cable, adds no
phase to the case. as this declination
was foreshadowed with certainty by
the answer of Sir Wilfried Laurier, the
Canadian premier. declining to stop pc
lagic sealing. The action of Lord Sails
bury merely adds the imperial and Off
cial sanction 10 this declnation of the
Canadian authorities. AS the Russo
j apanese-American treaty made sew
eral weeks ago for stoppage of pelaglc
sealing, was conditioned on the concur
renee of Great Britain in similar
measure to stop pelagic sealing. it is
presumed that the effect of Great Brit
airs action will be to nullify this
treaty.