The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-06
AS TO RECIPROCITY.
Lord Snlisbury's Stand in the Seal
ing Question Will Not Help


Washington, Dec. 29.-Sr Julian
PauncefOte, the British ambassador,
has about recovered from long and
painful attack of rheumat ism, which
has kept him in bed for a good part of
the last three months. The fact that
he was able to call at the state depart
ment yesterday led TO reports that CO.
incident with Lord Salisbury's declilu-
ton of the proposition to stop pelagic
sealing. Sir Julian had renewed reel
procity negotiations. His call. however,
had no significance. as Sir Julian did
not know of Lord Salisbury's answer at
the time he visited the state depart
ment. AS to the reciprocity negotia-
tions, they have progressed steadily
the embassy. and Sir Julian will now
be able to give the matter perso at
tention. The main desire of .hS Brit
ish West Indian colonies is to secure
the 20 per cent reciprocity reduction on
sugar. What will be offered in ex-
change has not yet bccp determined. At
the outset the purpose of the negotia-
tons was confined TO the British West
Indies. but the present indications are
that efforts will b., made to include Can
ada among the colonies receiving advan-
tages of reciprocity. How far this can
be done in view of the failure of the
Boring sea negotiations is not clear, but
it is probable the British government
will prefer to have the negotiations en-
brace all the colonies, including Canada,
instead of repeating the act when the
last reciprocity treaties were framed
of combining them to the West Indian
possessions. In this connection it may
be stated that Mr.. Kasson, the special
plenipOtentiary commission of the
United Stateas charged with the coll
duct of The negotiation of the reciprOci-
ty and treaty arrangements under the
tariff act, has not undertaken to con-
slider the question OF reciprocity with
Canada. This abstention on the part
of Mr.. KassOn is attributable to the
fact that the subject of reciprocity, pure
and simple, us described in the tariff
act. has become so involved with the
seal question and other issues as to be-
come practically inseparab!e from them,
and so the entire subject of Canadian
relations appears to remain in the con-
troll of eX-Secretary Foster.
1t had been expected that the recovery
of Sir Julian would permit active steps
on the British-Americdn treaty of ar
bitration. There is no present prospects.
however. that anything will be done on
that subject. and up to this time no he
gotiations have been opened between
the ambassador and the state secretary.
Both governments have signifed favor
able attitude toward reppening nego-
tiations, but the British government will
take no step whatever till definite as
surance is at hand that such treaty as
may be negotiated will become effective
by the ratification of the senate.
1t is said that the answer of Lord
Salisbury on the Boring sea question,
which has been briefly reported by ca
BILE, adds no new phas, to the case. as
this declination was foreshadowed with
certainty us to the answer of Sir Will
fred Laurier, the Canadian premier, de-
clining to stop pelagic sealing. The ac-
ton of Lord Salisbury merely addresses
the imperial and official sanction to the
decinatiOn of the Canadian officials
AS the Observation-Disclosures treaty,
made several weeks ago for the stop
page of pelagic sealing, was conditioned
on the concurrence of Great Britain in
a similar measure to stop pelagic seal
ing, it is presumed that the effect of
Great Brtain's action will be to multi
fly this treaty.