1892, which met at Paris, France, March 23, 1893. This arbitration resulted in a decision made on August 15, 1893, establishing protective regulations binding upon both nations, but for the most part unfavorable to the claims of the United States.
On the adjournment of the Paris tribunal in company with his wife and three friends from Evansville, Indiana, he made a tour of Europe, Africa and Asia, the trip extending over the greater portion of the year 1894. Mr. Foster was received with courtesies and honors seldom extended to a private citizen as a mere traveler. His party was entertained by the Kedive of Egypt and by the Gaikwar of Baroda, a protected Mahratta prince, that potentate setting apart a palace for their occupancy during their stay in that fortified city, although his caste prevented him from personally associating with them at meals. He was also entertained by the Nizam of Haiderabad and by the Maharajah of Jaipur. The government of China furnished a suite fit for an ambassador; and the railway on the Great Wall of China was opened and a special train carried the party to inspect that "Wonder of the World," and Mr. Foster carried away a brick from the wall as a souvenir of the occasion. The visitors dined with Li Hung Chang, who was afterward one of the commissioners to meet Mr. Foster in negotiating terms of peace with Japan. When the party visited Japan, a National Guard of Honor attended him everywhere, and the Mikado caused his own band to serenade him at his hotel, an honor seldom extended to any visitor to Tokio. In November, 1894, the party returned home; but Mr. Foster was again in Japan from December, 1894, to July, 1895, where he assisted Li Hung Chang, viceroy of the Empire of China, in the negotiations for peace with Japan, which resulted in the Treaty of Shimonoseki. When Li Hung Chang visited the United States in 1896, Mr. Foster entertained the viceroy at his home in Washington.
In 1897 President McKinley appointed him a special ambassador to Great Britian and Russia, and brought about a tripartite agreement for the protection of seals in the Bering Sea; the three nations whose interests were identical being Russia, Japan and the United States. The occasion of this treaty was the alleged failure of the government of Great Britian to cooperate in preventing poaching in these waters, and before proceeding to St. Petersburg, Ambassador Foster conferred with the authorities in London and made known the purpose of the United States in asking for the tripartite commission.
