The herald., 1898-09-08
The CANADIAN CABINET
MEETS TODAY TO REVIEW WORK
OF THE CONFERENCE
PAY FOR PELAGIC SEALERS
The Question Likely to Render Futile
the Efforts Of the International
Conference
Associated Press Special Wire.


NEW YORK. Sept. IA dispatch to the
Press from Ottawa says:
Next Thursday series of cabinet coun.
ellis will begin here at which the work so
far done at the Quebec International con-
ference will be reviewed and decisions TAX
en- on the issues developed.
The statement made some time ago that
the British ministers would go into the
conference prepared to settle the pelagic
sealing question in favor Of the United
States contention conditioned on fair In
demnity being paid to the sealers has been
officially confirmed. 1t remains with the
American commissioners to decide whether
the surrender Of Canada's rights, under the
treaty of Paris of 1893, to pelaglc sealing is
worth the amount at which the cession Is
valued-$744,0O0. 1t has to bs recognized
that SO far as the government Of Canada Is
concerned there is no choice in the matter
Of compensation.
As previously stated there are 55 sealers
engaged In the trade with a tonnage Of
37l2, representing so much actual capital
invested and proportionate revenue, the
number Of persons depending directly or
indirectly upon the trade being fully 10000.
II the United States commissioners refuse
sation there Is an end Of the matter, and
pelagic sealing must go on to the
end, unless Canada or Great Britain COM
ponsate these sealers themselves. In view
Of the possibility of the United States de-
clinng to pay for the surrender Of the
sealers' rights the above alternative has
now to be fully considered by the British
and Canadian commissioners
IT ia vf01affnQ M secrat IN aav that n ia
generally understood that the alternative
was prospectively submitted to Downing
street as a likely contingency some time
before the conference began, and that
Great Britain showed no disposition to pay
the sealers the sum demanded or anything
at all. Public opinion, which in Canada
would be highly sensitive to concessions
under pressure exercised by sovereign
power fully conscious of superior material
advantages, will not consent to the seal
ers being paid out of the public chest for
the surrender Of an undoubted right with
out sonne sort Of set-off.
The only possible solution II the United
States commissioners should definitely re-
fuse to buy out these vested rights would
be such concessions to Canada in other d.
rections as Canada might be able to accept
as of equal value to money payment of the
amount demanded. 1t is doubtful II Can
ada undertook to furnish the money to pay
off the sealers in consideration Of compen-
sating concessions by the United States in
other matters whether a settlement could
be effected for any smaller sum than above
stated. This IL one Of the ticklsh points
on which ministers will have to make up
their minds definitely on next Thursday.
Another point on which some approach
has been made by the commissioners to an
understanding Of the possibilities Of the
situation and of one onothers views is re-
c!procity. At the opening the attempt to
feel the way must have been something like
cropping for an object in the dark; but the
road has been to a great extent cleared.
and the representatives of all three coun-
tries begin to see glimpses of practicable
solutions. Canada must abandon the
hope of any concessions from the United
States which are not shown by overwhelm-
ing proof to be fully balanced by compen-
satory concessions from Canada to the
great republic.
If Canada expects to improve her trade
with the United States In any Of the lead
ing products Of the Dominion, It is realized
now that she will have to offer equivalents
TO the United States In manufactured goods
and agricultural products, no matter
whether the former interferes with the
British preferentials or not. The vigor
with which the United States commssi ION
ers have presented these views to the Can
adian representatives may be judged from
the leading headlines in the organ Of the
Ministerial party here to a summary of
the work so far accomplished Short and
to the point It was:
Americans want the earth"
Thre,-fourths of the Canadian press take
press services which include headlines as
we'll rs matter, and one of these services
describes the situation in the headlines as
follows:
every hard to satisfy.
"lmericans want to get everything and
Civ. nothing.
'Not willing to take the duty off lumber.
while clamoring for liberty to raft logs.
mo tariff changes wanted; our fish must
stly out"
Before adjournment subcommittee
we're appointed to collect data relating to
tie various leading questions upon which
ke commissioners had exchanged views.
these will be ready for the reassembling on
Sept. 20.