The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-01-02

GEN. SCHENCK ON THE FISHERY QUESTION,
Gen. Schenck has uot yet received his instruc-
tions from Washington, but expects they will
leave him fair margin for his own discretion
in future negotiations He doubted if the pro-
posal and terms for the adjustment of the pend.
ing claim between England and the United
States would proceed from this government,
put thought that both governments would meet
each other half way, and try to agree on basis
OF a settlement of the fisheries question.
Gen. Schenck said: My impression is that the
government of Great Britain is not half so diff
cult to deal with, in relation to the fisheries,
as the Canadians themselves, and / have reason
to believe that the conduct of the latter is no;
stimulated by instructions from the mother
country, but on the contrary causes much con-
Germ to Great Britain herself England feels
annoyed at the conduct of the Canadians, and
will probably send out delegate to the gov
eminent Of the Dominion with instructions to
put euro on their annoyance, and to bring
them to sense of the duty they owe to the
people of the United States Without regard to
the merits Of thscase, Il must say their behavior
has been churlish and offensive in the highest
degree. believe that if England could, with
out sacrlhce OF traditional pride, give up her
colonies in America, she wnnld most willingly
0it; If Canada would sever her connection
with the mother country and declare herself
an independent State, the British Government
would raise no objection to such an arrange
her possessions in that quarter are the means
OF by which she can check the ambitious de-
signs of other powers, and it is my opinion that
in the natural course of events Canada will
lapse into our Union.
M.Schenck also stated that he could not saw
exactly in what form the Alabama claims
would be presented, and what terms thew will
embrace, but money alone would not suffice as
compensation for the damages caused by fit
ting out the cruisers We want some decided
action in the ma ter, and shall try to get all We
can. The fisheries question will be drawn into
the discussion along with the Alabama claims
We shall try to obtain settlement of these
claims now and forever
In answer to the question whether it was the
intention of our government to take advantage
of EnglaIds difficulties in the East in order to
press these claims, Mr.. Schenck said, 81 do
not believe in that superlative magnanimity
which would forbid to us to take advantage of
existing circumstances. England is anxious to
settle on account of her difficulties, and now is
our time to obtain the best terms. I think it
was i'll advised on the part of Forney to assert
in his paper, under authority of the President,
that we should not take advantage of the pres
ent state of affairs in Europe in order to press
the adjustment of our claims. The Presiden.
never expressed such views. Without bully
ing or threatening we wish to let England
know that the time has arrived for the adjust
ment OF our outstanding claims, and that we
mean to wait no longer"
Mr.. Schenck expressed the belief that there
was no danger of war arising between the
countries out OF the existing controversies and
declared his intention to avoid all connection
or entanglng alliances with the negotiations
now pending among the Europegn powers in
reference to the Eastern question.