New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-26
two Powers sole parties to the treaty. may think

two Powers sole parties to the treaty may think proper
10 make"
Referring to the position of Lord Granville that
the two Governments could not select the third ar
bitrator after the three months expired, Mr. Fish
shows its entire consistency with Lord Granvilles
position that the British and American Ministers at
the Hague should select the Commissioner. Refer
ring to that proposition, Mr.. Fish, with admirable
point, says:
Your note submitting It bears date at Catskl Station
the Se Of tat month inadvertently stated as the a7t
in my the 3Oth utmo. According to the views
D ne Of N eea wCn Be
the letter of the treaty the two governments TO exer.
date Of the, article taking effect; The a ass
three months consequently expired on the day q
TS eeo y four tho dSs
the proposal OF Her Maesys Government and tor inc
Of sRa TneS Of sae. At the u nS for nS
sequent conference and agreement between him
and the British Minister for their respective Strn
ments. and for the subsequent concurrent &c
on of ns two % the Renr S Ghns
you. wellas most OF the officers OF tho Government
ply SSrs noe Il mail
OF the day succeeding its reception could not nave Deen
received by you at Catsk Station until september ~,
leaving but day for the carrying out OF the pro-
posal Of her Majesfy's Government
Sir Edward replies by nero iteration that as tn
three months have expired, the selection must be
made by the Austrian Ambassador in London;
Her Maiesty,s Goyernment therefore considers that
the Government of the Dominion OF Canada might com
plain If the nomination were not made as provided Tor
decision unfavorabe to Canada great discomfort might
arise in consequence III the colony Earl Granyie ma,
therefore desired me 10 sne ei ess
ing dentio note to be addressed to the Austrian
oyernnent by the REPRESENTATIVES, OF the United States
Of Britain Vienna, requesting thai tho
Austrian Embassador In London may be authorized to
proceed tho nomination of the third Commissioner
This last quoted note of Sir Edward was written
December 2, 1873 The whole subject was then
postponed for years TO await the result of the
negotiations for reciprocity treaty. which if sue
cessiul would have dispensed with tho meeting of
the Halifax Commission. AS the treaty failed, the
correspondence in regard TO the third Commissioner
was resumed
LITTLE DELAY, AND THEN DELFossE.
Sir Edward began where he left of. Under date
of April 81, 1875, Sir Edward writes:
bave the honor, therefore, TO propose that steps
mission In accordance with articles % to % OF the Treaty
OF Washington aud 10 suggest the eSpedlency OF agree
ing to an denic mote TO be addIesec 20 me Austinn
and of Great Britain at Vienna, requesting that the
proceed with the nomination OF the third commits
In The manner laid down In the twen'y-thlrd article OF
the treaty.
N''''N~
Europe of Governor Clifford. who had been chosen
as the American Commissioner. aud some corrospqn-
dence occurred Of no special interest importance.
On the sth Of May, 1876. Mr.. Fish addressed q
very important note to Sir Edward, reviewing the
whole subject and the correspondence thereon in the
plainest Of terms. After referring to the earnest
efforts of our Government TO agree upon third Com
missioner Mr. Fish concludes thus:
had already expressed TO you regret that Her Maj
osty's Government had not taken steps to reach an
agreement, and requested that some Danes might be-
proposed It's part but received response until the
2Gth OF August when You informed me that the Govern
the persons Ind been named by the United
states. without assigning any reason therefor,
provided by the treaty, , namely to leave
Z, OF fifty days ont Of the three months provided
Tor ly tic treaty, fer MJesys Goyornme seemed -
have RENTED the matter to Canada and practically TO
have abandoned an effort 10 reach cooint nomination
m contemplated by the treaty because Canada preferred
resort 10 what IS termed the alternative provided by
the treaty. ..,... .,..o ..o.,.,, -, ,,u,,o mama
which you had previously informed your G0Ncinuent
after inquiry, would be unacceptable TO tho United
reached IN way foreign 10 the treaty through the Am
bassaors Of the respective countries ~ the Hague, no
Names or the efforts OF the United States IN the
direction provided by tho treaty aud after the cxpra
ton OF three months, although the United states was
stu willing 10 endeaVOF 70 rrach an agreement. your
Government declined TO consider any uthcT steps 10
that end
Imnac reference this subject not To prooug discns
sion because II srrins proper 70 show how anu why
much delay occurred well as to recall the opinion
which Government OF the Unucd states has AWAY
entertained that the twenty article OF the Treaty
of Wa,hngtOn provides for the Nomination Of thfd
Commissioner ~ the two Governments. and demanded
M least an actual and bona lids effort by them To reach
an agreement, ana contemplated nomination by the
Austrian Ambassador NJ London, not as an alternative
10 be chosen viii. but only 10 be TesOrtcd 10 when
real effort reach agreement had been made by both
parties. and had proved entirely unayaillng.
While OF this opinion, aud while believing not only
that " would have been more satisfactory had nom
nation been agreed upon by the two Governments, but
that such demanded by the spirit Oi the treaty the
United states does not propose 10 nicrpoe obstacles In
carving out these articles OF the treaty on this ground
aud shall bc ready any time to CONFER WIKI you as 10
form OF identic note to DO addressed To eAustrlan
Government I'm order obtain the requisite permission
that the representative o. Hungary M London
may proceed to mako an appointment pursuant 10 aIti
Gle twenty three of the Treaty OF Washington.
The identc note agreed upon, and in due
time the matter was submitted to the Austrian Am
bassador at London. Delfosso was siraightway APP
pointed. The Commission met at Halifax, and the
award of $5,500,0OO followed with promptness
evidently more gratifying TO the British and the
Canadians than to our own people.