The New York herald., 1871-02-13


American DIniculiies.
The London weekly reviews OF January 2S,
just received, have each editorial articles on
Anglo-American difficulties. OF course the
articles were all written before the appoint
ment Of the joint High Commission, and evil
IDENTIFY In ignorance Of the intentions Of the
government. These journals including the
Saturday Rsvisw, the Spectator, the Econo-
mist, the Eraminer, the Pail Mall budget
which last is republication Of the better class
Of articles in the Pail HAL Gasetts-are in
some respects more reliable index of the
sentiments Of the thinking and rejecting por-
ton Of the British public than the Times, the
Telegraph, the Standard or the Daily Ne,os.
What they say about our international difficult
ties ought not to be uninteresting to us.
The Economist and the Examiner direct at
tention particularly to 4he Fish-Motley oorres-
pondence. The judgments pronounced by both
journals on the correspondence Is not fatter-
ing either to Mr.. Fish or to Mr.. Motley. The
Pail Mall Budget, the Saturday Revieso and
the Examiner treat specially of the fisheries,
incidentally only touching on the Alabama af-
fair. In the Pail Mall Budget and in the
SATURDAY Reoiew history Is given Of the
fishery question, from the treaty Of 1888 down
to the present time From the British
standpoint the case is admirably made
out. Both journals quote from the
Convention Of 1918, which is still
In force, the following clause :-"The United
States hereby renounce forever any liberty
heretofore enjoyed or claimed by the inhabi-
tants thereof to take. dry or cure fish on or
within three marine miles Of any Of the coasts
bays, creeks or harbors Of his Britannia
Majesty's dominions in America not included
within the above mentioned limits; provided,
however, that the American fishermen shall be
the purpose of shelter and of repairing dam
ages therein, Of purchasing wood and of
obtaining water, and for no other purpose
whatever. But they shall be under such re-
strictions as may be necessary to prevent
their taking, drying or curing fish therein, or
in any other manner whatever abusing the
privileges hereby conceded to them"
The Budget feels emboldened to declare
this to be $50 clear that it would drive any
body who had not General Buffers tempera-:
ment to despair" The Reciew puts 1t not less
strongly when it says :-ssIt is for the purpose
Of asserting the claim which his predecessors
had formally 'renounced forever, that General
Grant accuses the government of the Dominion
of unfriendly conduct, and proposes direct
violation Of treaties to exclude Canadian ves-
sells from the waters Of the United States"
The ReuieW concludes by asserting that ~
series Of speeches like those of General Butler,
and of State papers after the model Of General
Grants Message, might create permanent
estrangement between Canada and the United
States" IF American diplomatists," says
the Budget, in milder strain, 'sbegin nego-
tiation about the fisheries, with an admission
that the Canadians are only doing what they
have right to do, we may hereafter state the.
reasons which lead us to think that some con-
cessions may be made"
or all the journals the Examiner takes the
most sensible view of the general situation.
1t admits that the Canadians have an exclu-
sive right to the fisheries within three miles Of
their coast and that American vessels found
fishing in Canadian waters are liable to for
feiture. But it very justly says 1.-THE Cana
dian authorities claim to proceed upon the
Convention Of 1918, which is the only treaty
governing the rights Of the parties but their
Interpretation is repudiated by the American
government, and is, moreover, unsupported by
the custom Of half century. If they are
right in contending for the power to prohibit
the entry Of American vessels it is the first
time the claim has been advanced, although
the treaty has been in existence since 1SlS
Even supposing that the Canadians have in
certain events right to exclude American
fishermen, the exercise Of that right may be an
unfriendly act, and may lead to retaliatory
measures. The French had an undoubted
right to expel all Germans from France but
such step. justiaable as means Of defence
against the wide organization of German spies,
If taken 10 time Of peace would have been an
outrage. There is also an ugly inconsistency
between the policy Of exclusion carried out
In Canada and our Eastern policy. We went
to war with China to compel the admission Of
English goods, and especially of certain
drug from which the Indian government draws
great revenue. We compelled the Japanese
to open their ports by display Of naval supe-
risrity; and we can hardly refuse to the
United States privileges that we have extorted
In the East by blood and iron.'"
The Er0naiaaer admits the justice Of Presi-
dent Grants complaint that American vessels
are examined before local Canadian courts,
where anti-Amsrican feeling runs high, and
advocates the establishment Of an international
prize court, composed of representatives Of