The New York herald., 1871-03-27
Earnest Deliberations at the
Dinner Parties.
Earl de Grey and Secretary Fish Talking
'l'ishcry" Between Courses.
Proposed Renewal Of the Reci-
procity Treaty.
Doubts Of Any Acceptable Result OF the
Deliberations Of the Committee.


they concluded the third week OF their deliberations
! In the evening there
DINNER PARTY AT THE BRITISH EMBASSY,
| which was attended by Secretary and Mrs. Fish,
Postmaster General ana Mrs. Creswel, the Spanish
| Minister and Mrs. Roberts, Sir John A. Macdonald
| and Lady Macdonald, Earl DE Grey, Professor Mon
! tague Bernard, Sir Stafford H. Northcote, Lord
, Tentcrden Secretary Robson, Senator ana Mrs.
| Sprague, Hon. Le Poor Trench, sir Edward and
| Lady Thornton being the host ana hostess. On
Tuesday the British Commissioners will pay
VISIT TO MOUNT VERNON,
and on Saturday next they intend participating In
fox hunt Maryland. Notwithstanding it Is
announced that the Commissioners are progressing
fayOrably and that their deliberations are harmo-
NOUS, there are good grounds for believing differ
emily. During The past week they have had some
RATHER STORMY SESSIONS,
and 1t was difficult for some OF the mem
bers to retain their equanimity. The British
and American Commissioners are in each
others company almost constantly. After the
adjournment Of their business meet ngs they
frequently confront each other In the evening at the
dinner table or party. Conversations between
individual members OF the Commission touching
the questions at issue sometimes occur on sucn
occasions. that consideration OF the relations
between the two countries Is now
to the council chamber. AT the reception given by
Sir Edward Thornton the other evening, the session
Of the Joint Commission on that day having been
somewhat breezy, IL was remarked tnat Earl De
Grey and Mr.. Fish became completely absorbed In
conversation upon the deliberations OF the day.
The British Commissioners are IN constant tele-
graphic communication with the home government,
and their telegraph expenses are said to be enor-
| nous. Earl De Grey is recognized as the ruling
spirit among his colleagues, but 1t is understood
that
HIS FMBARRAssMENrs
arc augmented by tile lack Of prompt and positive
instructions, indicating ndecision the part of the
| home government. Sir Stafford NOrtlcote, who
represents the tory element IS decidedly indsposcd
to swerve from any OF the positions heretofore as
sumed by the British government He stands up
for what the arlstocracy assume to be
THE RIGHTS OF ENGLAND.
Sir John A. Macdonald is the champion Of Cana
dian interests ana it is said that his pertlnacty IN
this respect does not receive the cordial concurrence
of some of the other British Commissioners, who
are disposed to consider the rights or England OF
more Importance than
THE LOCAL INTERESTS OF THE CANADIANS.
The Canadians are nyielding, the English are
unyieldlng, and so are the Americans. Well in
formed persons here, whose judgment Is more than
mere inference, believe that the points OF difference
are SO great to be all but irrcconcilabe and they
do not see now the Commission can come to satis-
factory settlement At least two OF the American
Commissioners have not hesitared to express them.
selves as doubtful OF the probability OF any OF
THE QUESTIONS BEING ADJUSTED.
The fishery question, which has taken up SO
much OF their time, has not advanced q single
stage toward practical solution, for 1t is found
that Canada, hsding to her three-me limitation as
any arrangement OF that matter which does not pro-
vide for an entire revision OF the trade regulations
between the two countries, and that in this respect
the position taken by Sir John A. Macdonald is acqui
esced in by his colleagues. II IL understood that
CONSTANT COMMUNICATIONS
have been passing between the Canadian govern
ment and Downing street, the Dominion authorities
holding that under the Imperial Dominion act, ''The
Organic Law,n England is debarred from insisting
upon any arrangement OF the fishery question inc0n.
slstent with the views and desires OF the Canadian
government IL Is held that this IS q question OF
much more Importance than might be supposed at
first 1t involves either an acknowledgment or the
inviolability OF that law, or else 1t would be
strued by the Canadians as violative OF the
LIBERTIES GUARANTEED TO THEN BY THE ACT OF
UNION.
Sir John A. Macdonald takes the ground that the
three mile limit is as much matter OF sovereignty
with Canada The possession OF any portion or her
territory on land, ana that If England 10 insist
upon Canada giving up this sovereignty she might
as well lay claim 10 the actual soil OF Canada, and
the personal government there would be
NOTHING BETTER THAN FARCE
Letters have been received here from leading men,
without distinction OF party, in Canada, declaring
that under circumstances Will they submit to he
overrued In what they claim to be their rights by
The action OF any Joint Commission, and that
IL NECESSARY THEY WILL APPEAL
10 the people OF England TO have their rights pro-
tected In the old reciprocity treaty it provided
that the convention should not go into erect without
the consent or the several provinces Affected The
Canadians contend that their present form OF gov
ernment, so far from weakening their rights has
strengthened :, them, ami that England might Just
as well declare
THE TERRITORY CEpED
at once 10 the United States as to violate their con-
syitutiona privileges by abandoning the fisheries,
unless upon consideration freely approved ny
Canada 1t is known that about a year ago Mr.. Fish
invited Mr.. Thornton to informally discuss the
questions pending between the United states and
Canada and suggest ed that he believed an arrange
ment could be made by which lumber, coal, salt
and fish might be admitted free into the United
states or at least at low rate OF duty, provided
Canada gave us
THE FREEDOM or THE CANALS
OF the ST. Lawrence and the nshOre fisheries. This
proposition was communicated to the Governor
General OF Canada and considered by the Privy
Council there. The result was that the Canadian
government informed Mr.. Thornton chat they looked
upon proposition OF that kind wholly insufficient
and subsequently both Sir Francis iIincks, the
Finance Minister, and Mr.. Tupper the Presi lent OF
| tac Council, denounced IN the Canadian. Parna-
ment the American proposition as
nEaRADING ASp INsULrISa
to the Dominion Ths being the case It Is inferred