ly declines to take
part in the conference.

Those who are in a position to know say that England has been forced
into this position by Canada.

When Prof. D'Arcy Thompson returned from his trip to the seal islands
this year, he brought with him information that completely upset his
former statements and theories, and showed that the seals are decreasing
rapidly.

Canada became convinced that Russia, Japan, and the United States would
combine in an effort to have the seals carefully preserved, and
therefore she urged England to refuse to take part in the conference,
and thus give her time to consider what may be the best course for her
to take under the circumstances.

Experts who have been in London examining the year's take of seal-skins
are ready to state before the conference that eighty per cent of the
skins sold by the Canadian companies are those of the mother seals, and
that most of these animals have been shot.

This latter point is important, because it is in this way that the seals
are killed in the deep-sea or pelagic sealing, which the United States
is so anxious to put a stop to.

The conference will be held with or without England, but, feeling that
Russia and Japan may also have cause for offence if England refuses to
meet them, it is said that the State Department has written once more to
the British Government, urging it to send some one to be present at the
meetings.

It is also reported that Sir Julian Pauncefote is anxious that England
should be represented, and has used his influence to get her to do so.

Our Government is inclined to think that England's refusal is not very
polite. Lord Salisbury, however, says that he is entirely free from all
blame in the matter, and that the whole trouble has been caused by a
misunderstanding with our ambassador, Colonel Hay.

His Lordship declares that when Colonel Hay saw him in July last, and
gave him the information that Russia and Japan had consented to take
part in the conference, he immediately said:

"Oh, no, Great Britain will not take part on such conditions."

Our ambassador did not hear any such reply, and understood Lord
Salisbury to consent.

In the mean while, the representatives of Russia and Japan have arrived
in this country, and are waiting for the conference to begin.

The English papers express themselves as being very pleased that England
has refused to be present at the meeting. They insist that we were
setting a trap for