The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-12-08

=
90. Unfortunately the news Of the
war between the German States and
France. reached China soon after the
massacre. It would appear that the
popular mind became possessed with
the idea that this contest, extending
To Chinese waters, would neutrahze
the Christian influence and power,
and that the time was coming Wllem
the superstitiOus mass might eXpel al
foreigners. and restore Mandarian
influence. Anticipating trouble from
this cause. I invited France ana
North Germany 20 make an author-
lied suspension Of hOstIlities in the
East, where they were Temporarily
suspended by act Of the commanders,
and to act together for the future pro-
lection in China ofthe lives and prop
erty OF Americans and Europeans
TREATIES WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
Since the adjournment Of Congress,
the ratificatiOns Of the treaty with
Great Britain for abOlishing the mixed
courts for the suppression Of the slave
trade have been exchanged. II is be-
lieved that the slave trade is now con-
confined to the eastern coast Of Africa
whence the slaves are taken to Ara.
bian markets. The ratifcatiOns Of
the naturalization convention be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States have also been exchanged dur
ing the recess, and thus a long stand
ing dispute between the two govern
ments has been settled in accordance
with the principles always contended
for Dy the United States.
A BOUNDARY LINE QUESTION.
In April last, while engaged in To-
eating a military reservation near
Pembina, a corps Of engineers diseov-
cred that the commonly received
boundary line between the United
States and the British possessions at
that place, is about 500 feet south of
the true position of the zenith para
llel, and that the line when run on
what is now supposed to be The true
position Of that parallel, would leave
| the fort for Of the Hudson Bay COmpa-
nv, at Pembina, within the territory Of
/ the United States. This information
! being communicated to the British
/ government, was requested to con-
sent, that the British occupation Of
/ the fort of the Hudson Bay Company
should continue for the present.
deem it important, however, that this
part Of the boundary line should be
definitely fixed by a joint commits.
/ sion of the two Governments, and
| submit herewith estimates Of the ex-
| peuse Of such com mmission on the part
| Of the United STATES, and recommend
/ that an appropriation be made for that
! purpose. The land boundary is al
ready fixed and marked from the
summit of the Rocky Mountains TO
| the Georgian Bay. 1t should now be
| in like manner marked from the Lake
of the Woods to the summit Of the
Rocky Mountains.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Iregret to say that no conclusion
has been reached for the adjustment
/ of the claims against Great Britain
growing out of the course adopted by
that government during the rebellion.
I The cabinet of London, so far as its
views have been expressed, does not
appear to be willing to COncede that
| Her Majesty's government was gull
| ty OF negligence, or did, or permitted
any act during the war by which the
| United States has just cause of COM
/ plaint. Our firm and unalterable con-
/ victiOns are directly the reverse.
! therefore recommend to Congress to
authorize the appointment of Com
mission to take proof of the amounts
and the ownership of these claims on
notice being given to the represent
] NnNs 1F L. ATafn1Hrr OF NUou in
and that authority be given for the
settlement of these claims by the
United States, so that the government
shall have the ownership Of the pri-
vate claims as well as the responsible
control Of all demands against Great
/ Britain. It cannot be necessary TO
add that whenever her majesty's gov
ernment shall entertain desire for a
full and friendly adjustment of these
claims the United States will enter
| upon their consideration with an ear
nest desire for a conclusion consistent
with the honor and dignity of both
nations.
THE FISHERIES DISPUTE.
The course pursued by the Canadian
authorities toward the fishermen of
the United States during the past sea-
son has not been marked by friendly
feeling. By the first article of the
convention of 1918 between Great
Britain and the United States, it was
agreed that the inhabitants of the
United States should have forever, in
common with British subjects, the
right of taking fish in certain waters
therein defined. In the waters notin-
cluded in the limits named in the con-
vention, within three miles of the
ports of the British coast, it has been
the custom of many years to give
intruding fisherman of the United
! States a reasonable warning of their
violation of the technical rights of
| Great Britain. The English govern
ment is understood to have delegated
the whole or a share of its jurisdiction
or control of these inshOre fishing
grounds to the colonial authority
known as the Dominion of Canada,
and this semi-independent but irres-
pOnsible agent has exercised its dele
gated powers in an unfriendly way.
| Vessels have been seized without no
tice or warning, in violation of the
custom previously prevailing and
have been taken into the colonial
ports, their voyages broken up and the
vessels condemned. There is reason
| to believe that this unfriendly and
veXatious treatment was designed to
bear harshly upon the hardy fisher
| men of the United States, with a
view to political effect upon this
government. The statues of the DJm-
iniOn of Canada assume a still broad
4 4 fnr ~
/ the vessels of the United States.
They authorize officers or persons
to bring vessels within three marine
miles Of any of the coasts, bays,
creeks or harbors of Canada, into
port, to search their cargo, to exam.
me the ma 5ter on oath touching the
cargo and voyage, and to infiict upon
him a heavy pecuniary penalty If
true answers are not given; and if
| such vessel is found preparing to fish
/ within three marine miles Of any such
coasts, bays, creeks or harbors with
| lut a license, or after the expiration
IF the period named in the last license
granted to it, they provide the vessel,
with her tackle, &c, shall be forfeit
| ed. It is not known that any con-
formations have been made under
this statute. Should the authorities
)f CaBada attempt to enforce it, it
will become my duty to take such
steps as may be necessary to protect
the rights osthe citizens of the United
States. It has been claimed by her
Najesty's officers that fishing vessels
IF the United States have no right to
enter the open ports Of the British
| possessions in North America, except
FOR the purposes Ofsheltera and repairing
lamages, of purchasing wood and OBJ
tanning water; that they have no right
/ to enter at the British custom houses
Or to trade except for the purchase of
wood and waitr, and that they must
iepart within twenty-fOur hours af-
ter notice to leave. 1t is not known
that any seizure of q fishing vessel
carrying the flag of the United States
las been made under this claim. So
far as the claim is founded on an al
ieged construction Ofthe convention
IF 1918, it cannot be acquiesced in by
the United States. 1t is hoped that it
will not be insisted on by her Majes-
| ty's government. During the confer
| ences which produced the negotiation
of the convention Of 1918, the British
minister proposed to expressly exclude
/ the fishermen of the United States
from the privilege of carrying on
trade with any of his Britannia Ma
iesty's subjects residing within the