, 1871-05-18
THE WEEKLY ARGUS
THURSDAY, MAY. 10. 1871
THE WORK OF THE JOINT HIGH
COMMISSION.

The telegraph has furnished the out
lines of the result of the laborS of the
Join: High Commission.
Tie Alabama claims are TO be settled
bv arbitration, and special rules are es-
tablished as 20 neutrals duties and obli-
cations, in addition to the generally re-
ceived public law, which rules, although
not admitted by the British Commissioners
to have been in force at the time, i. has
been agreed, viii govern the decisions Of
the tribunal of arbitration. The British
Government expresses its regret for the
occurrence of the incidents complained of
Ly the United States. An ordinary mixed
Commission has been provided, with an
umpire to be appointed by some friendly
power, for the adjudication of all claims
bttween citizens Of the United States and
subjects Of Great Britain. These clsims
must lie confined TO a period between
April, 1861 and April, 1865. In regard
to the fisheries in addition to the liberty
secured by the treaty of 1918, fishermen
Of the United States shall have liberty to
take sea fish on ;ho S a coast shores and in
bavs harbors aud rivers of the Provinces
of Quebec, Nova Scotia, Nrw Brunswick,
and the colony of Prince Edward Island,
and the islands adjacent, without being
subject to any Disadvantages from snore,
with permission to land upon such coasts,
shores and islands, for the purpose Of dry
ing nets and curing fsh--subjrct of course,
in this resi- ect to local rights and private
property. The same liberty is granted to
Britise subjects on the eastern sea coast
and shores of the United States, north OF
the 39th parallel of latitude.
1t is asserted by the British Govern
ment, but not admitted by the United
States, that the privileges accorded 10 cit
liens of the United States are of greater
value than those accorded to the subjects
of Great Britain, and to prevent or avoid
controversy on this point, it is agreed
that mixed commission, with an umpire
to be appointed by designated friendly
power, shall determine whether any COM
pensalion for such alleged excess of privi-
iege, and how much, ought to be paid by
the United States. Various questions of
navigation and commercial treaty are dis
posed of by declaring the navigation Of
The rivers St. Lawrence, Yucatan, Porcu-
pine and Sticknc forever free and open to
citizens and subjects of both countries.
These provisions concerning fisheries and
commercial transit are Of course made
contingent upon their being approved of
by the Congress of the United States and
the British Parliament, the Parliament of
Canada and the Legislature Of Prince Ell,
ward Island.
1t has been agreed that the Emperor Of
Germany shall decide the northwest boun-
dary question. The reporter says the
privileges conceded 40 the United States
p by this treaty are important ONES. There
are some stipulations in regard TO trade,
confined almost exclusively to fish, which
are not of interest here.
The Canadian papers all cry cut against
this treaty, as affecting tLeir fisheries and
trade, and claim that just equivalent has
not been given by the United States and
that it will have a tendency to damage
the fishing business OF the Provinces We
hardly know whether to commend it or
rot, as it will probably involve consider
able consideration to be paid in money, if
the arrangement is as is claimed by the
Canadian papers but this Of course is
denied by the United States.
Ofthat part of the 'rfangemcnt relative
to the San Juan boundary question, we
should have been better pleased to have
seen the matter settled directly by the
Commission because we are confident
our commissioners would never have given
mp what is so Justly ours, however advan>
tageous its ownership might have been to
the British Government. But looking at
the matter as the Commissioners must
have looked at it, and accepting their i'm
piled confidence in the Emperor of Ger
many, we need not question the issue.
Our Commissioners chose this way, being
almost certain that the islands would come
to us, rather than go through another
heated controversy. The British Coloais
has expressed the fear that these islands
will not 60 to the crown.
The steamer California arrived from