The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-06-20
ELLIOTT POINTS TO
ROOTS DFRFLICTION
Declares Former Secretary Of
State Is to Blame for the
LOOting of RoOkeries
Ohio Professor Contributes an
Interesting Chapter on the
Fur Seal Question

! Editor Call: Your editorial on the
present status Of the fur seal negotia-
tions makes it quite important that
submit the salient facts in the prem
/ ises TO your readers. to wit:
The following report was made TO
the president from the department of
state May s, 1909 1t was submitted in
obedience to a request from Mr.. Taft
that Mr.. Knox give him an accurate
statement as to the past and present
status Of the fur seal negotiations
since the death of John Hay. This re-
port was submitted as a memorandum
for the president. and said:
With respect to the present status
Of the fur seal negotiations an exam
nation Of the records of the depart
ment shows that in April, 1906, the
then secretary of state, Mr.. Root, pro-
posed to the British ambassador
draft treaty providing for the preser-
walton and protection of the Alaskan
fur seal herd. This treaty conformed
closely to the recommendations con-
tanned in memorandum on the sub
ject received from the senate commit
tee on territories as a suggestion for
a basis Of settlement to be proposed by
] .
thus proposed was not acceptable TO
Great Britain on the objection Of
Canada but the negotiations were still
continued and are still pending
WHAT THE RECORDS SHOW
Do the records OF the department"
show this DO they show the fact that
lin April. 1906" Mr.. Root prepared
draft treaty which "conformed closely"
to that memorandum on the subject"
received from the senators who coop
Grated with Mr.. Hay2 Unhappily for
the public interests al stake in the
seal islands Of Alaska they show that
in:
I9O5-July ]. Mr. Hay died
I905-August l. Elihu Root was des-
ignated as his successor
I905-October 3 Elihu Root appeared
for first time at the department since
I3O5-October 5, the British smbas-
sador called and gave Mr. Root the
formal notice OF the rejection by
Canada Of Mr.. Hays proposal of Feb
ruary 28-Mareh 2. 1905 in re the trans
fer of killing months. Nothing else
done between them today on this par
ticular fur seal issue. Mr.. Root said
nothing about the unfinished fur seal
draft treaty Of John Hay.
I9O5-October 20. Mr. Elliott put the
unfinished fur seal treaty plan OF John
Hay. the senatorial committee, the
&
mutual concession and Joint control.
into Mr.. Roots hands. Mr.. Elliott in
formed Mr.. Root that this treaty. plan
could be ratified at Ottawa in less than
six weeks time from date If Mr. Root
would authorize him to do so; that II
is all complete in every detail and only
wants the formal official submission to
Canada by the department
In the afternoon of this day the at
torneys for the lessees see Mr.. Root;
they ask him to reject this Hay Elliott
treaty plan aforesaid; they tell him
that its terms eliminate the private
interests of their clients, and they OBJ
ject TO 1t, and demand another plan Of
settlement in which their clients pri-
vate interests shall be regarded.
ROOT DOES NOTHING
I905-Up to December Mr. Root
has done nothing with this fur seal
business aforesaid; he has not spoken
or written word to either the sena-
tors, the British ambassador, or to Mr..
seal business since It was opened and
put in his hands by Mr.. Elliott, as
stated. on October 20 last.
The senatorial committee. therefore,
address Mr.. Root a letter today and
courteously ask him TO expedite this
fur seal business in which they have
been cooperating with Mr.. Hay, as
above cited.
I9O5-December Il. Mr. Root an
swers the senator's letter Of the 9Th
instant; says that Il must see the Brit
!
that he viii see him at the earliest
opportunity, etc.
I9O5-December 81, the British am
bassador today. not having word or
a line from Mr.. Root on this seal bust
ness since October last as above
stated. opened tits question himself
with Mr.. Root, orally. at the state de-
partment. He asked Mr.. Root what
he was going to do with this fur seal
treaty plan which was in his hands as
the unfinished work between John Hay
and himself
Secretary Root answered: Il must
see the senators first before | can take
IL up with you"
DILLINGHAM; CALLS ON ROOT
I9O6-February 3, Senator Dilling-
ham. chairman of the senatorial COM
mittee. not having received a line or
a word from Secretary Root touching
THIS topic of fur seal settlement since
that joint suggestion made by the lat
ter In his note of December IA last and
cited above. called In person today
upon Mr. Root at the department of
state He had a long discussion Mr.
Root lodged immediate action on the
senator's plan q. e.. the Hay-Elliott
treaty plan). He told Senator billing
ham that he must sound Japan and
Russia first. and have an understand
ing with them. etc. that he was busy
in negotiating, etc.
Senator Dillingham; informed Mr. FL
lott of this statement and action of Mr.