New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-19
DIFFERENCES WITH CANADA.
AN EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE
BEHRING SEA QUESTION EXPECTED.

PROGRESS on OTHER SUBJECTS BEFORE THE
JOINT HIGH COMMIssIoN-HoPE TO FINISH
THE WORK BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.
washington. Nov 1S--Members Of the Anglo
American Joint High Commission, Canadians
and Americans. expressed the hope to-day that
the Commission would complete its labor be-
fore the Christmas holidays. but they are not
vet willing 10 say that a treaty viii be framed
covering the many subjects OF difference be-
tween the United States and Canada Greater
progress has been made than is generally
derstood. and rough drafts Of some Of the arti-
Giles Of the proposed treaty have been submitted
by subcommittee and tentatively approved.
These, however. cover the minor questions. and
the important subjects OF the North Atlantic
fisheries. reciprocity and the Behring Sea seal
fisheries remain open.
While the Commission treats all statements
regarding its work as unauthorized. yet Il is I'M
derstood that the questions Of border mmigra-
ton. mining rights, lake fisheries and the
Alaskan boundary have been found less diffi-
cult Of solution than was expected and that
basis Of agreement these subjects Is in
sight. If not actually determined upon. Techni-
cally, however. nothing IS done until the last
act oe the Commission is performed. so that
these and al other subjects remain open until
the END
As to the Behring Sea, the view prevails on
both sides that settlement will be reached.
and the presence Of two officials-one a Cana
dian and the other an American-at Victoria,
where an inventory Of the Canadian sealing
feet is being made. leads TO the belief that the
settlement may be on the basis Of wiping out
the industry by giving the Canadians some
equivalent for the capital invested. a recent
official document makes the Behring Sea fleet
number thirty. but these are small schoonerS.
none OF them above hundred tons
RECIPROCITY AND FISHERIES.
Reciprocity and the Atlantic fisheries continue
20 be the most difficult questions before the
Commission. on reciprocity the Commission
ers do not express themselves IN sanguine terms
The subject is still before a subcommittee.
which. however, reports when an agreement is
reached. and the full Commission approves what
has been done There many articles on
tariff schedule that the discussions have not
yet resulted In many agreements on speclnc
articles groups OF articles. Thus Tar the
discussion has been rather free ana open. aTu-
cles being considered as they We're called up
by individual members. While the abrogauon
o. the British preferential tarin Is considered
by some Of the American Commissioners as es-
sential 10 any reciprocity agreement. Il is SAID
that this view has not been submitted In the
form Of an ultimatum. and that the issue on
that point IS yet to come.
As indicating the liberal view prevailing
among the American Commissioners, one OF
them said to-day that he wished American mer-
chants could be brought to realize the futihty
of shutting out Canadian goods from the mar
kets OF the United States. when the chief resu L
was 10 force these goods into British markets
where they compete with American goods al
much greater advantage than they could Oh
tain in the New York and other American mar
krts III his judgment. II was 10 the advantage
@. the United States 10 compete with Canadian
goods on its own grounds, rather than 10 90
across the ocean and meet them in competition
BRIEF SESSION YESTERDAY.
The Commission held IT'S usual session begin
ming at IL O'Clock to-day. The meeting was
brief. and the Commission adjourned until Tues
day nj II a. m The two sides held separate
pAssfons this afternoon. and most Of the time
until Tuesday Will be given TO these separate
meetings The only subject considered to-day
was reciprocity. 1t is understood that the item
OF 1--we animals is receiving special attention,
the traffic in horses cattle etc. being considera-
Die across the border.
The prospect Of an early settlement ~ the
fsehring Sea question improved by the re-
cant of word that the TWO officials who have
been appraisinC the value Of the Canadian seal
Ing feet have completed their labors and are
oow on their way 70 Washington