The New York herald., 1878-03-28
WASHINGTON.
The Fishery Commission in Quite
Another Light
ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Mr.. Dellosse Selected at the Request of
the Two Governments.
OUR RELATIONS WITH MEXICO.
An Early Recognition of President
Diaz Presaged.
Tile MASSACHUSETTS, CONTESTED ELECTION.
Changes by the Senate in the Consular
and Diplomatic Bill.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
An Early Recognition of President
Diaz Presaged.
TIE MASSACHUSETTS, CONTESTED ELECTION,
Changes by the Senate in the Consular
and Diplomatic Bill.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, March 27. 1878.
A NEW FACE on THE FIsHERIEs QUESTION
MR.. pELFossB APPOINTED At THE REQUEST
or OUR oovxRxMENT-ADDITIoNAL LIT
TERs
Tho correspondencs which has been sent In TO tho
Senate by tho State Department In answer TO Senator
Blaine's inquiry coucorping tho Fishery Com mission
has aggravated rather than satisfied public curiosity
Mr. Blaine asked for scopes OF all correspondence
between our government and the government Of Her
Britannia Majesty in regard to the selection Of NJ
Maurice Deliosso the third oomm,ss,oner on the
question OF the nsherios." Secretary Evarts has
scut the whole thus called for and Il
happens IN this case, as 10 many Others that In
curry confessedy based on public rumor aud partial
Information, as Mr. Blaine acknowledged In his
speech on the resolution, has called tor documents
which, beng furnished, give only one-sidcd aud
complete view OF tho matter OF inquiry and fail en-
tireiy 10 answer the real question
From the published document II appears only that
In 1873 Mr. Fish suggested several persons other
Mr. Deliosso TO tho British government as proper TO
act a. Tho third commissioner, and that he thou
disinclincd to accept Mr. DelIossc; that tho wnole
question then rested while negotiations for recp-
vocity tsenty wero pending. and that taken
up again until thrce years later In May 1876 whom
the British and American commissioners wore ap-
pointed, while the selection OF third Commissioner
does appear to havo undertaken until Febru.
ary OF the following year, 1877. Mr.. Fish. IN un
interview published in the HERALD adds an i'm
portant particular to this story by tho state.
nent that no bad consented 10 the appoint.
nent Of Mr.. Defosse fear that he, now
private citizen might, by gong further into Details
infringe upon diplomatic propriety probably deferred
oim from stating some further particulars which arc
however, SO well known and so frequently discussed
more In diplomatic circles that their publication not
only can do no harra, but to be required as
matter Of justice 10 Mr. Deosse, whose friends have
soen that tho title OF the inquiry tails bring out
facts which arc important to u full understanding Of
the case.
The following relation. which completes tAo history
OF Mr.. Dolfossc's appointment third com
shows, In addition to what 10 already Known
namely, that he was entirely iguorant OF the
fact that Mr.. Fish had, In 1879 objected
TO him-wnat 10 OF greater mportance-,hat Mr.. Fish,
In February 1877, himself took the Initiative BY re-
questing Mr. DeIiosse serve. Lie informed Sir Ed
ward Thornton at that timo no was desirous 10 &C.
eept Mr. Deliosse as tho third commissioner and
requested him 10 call Mr. De!fosse In The name
st both governments ask him to serve. Mr. Deliosso
1t Arst declined he had before declined 10 sorvo on
The Spanss-American Commission, such duties bong
distascf.l 10 him. lie yielded, however, to renewed
aud pressing requests, and from a sense OF duty
toward Two friendly governments who asked him 10
render them service When hc nnally consented 10
act Mr.. Fish, February 49, 1877, wrote Mr.. Deosse
the following letter Of thanKs:-
FISH TO MR.. pgLFossg,
DEPARTMENT or SrArE,)
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is 1917. (
MI DEAR DKLFossE-iam very siad tuat you have
soncr under tho third Lho Treaty Of
Washington. lshouid have called upon YOU company
tor the many matters pressing upon nj this time,
when Congress fs In session, ana know he would rep
nuss 20 y1a my So, wnes Ss oar Ass assent 10 our ro
commission neither onerous nor disagyeeabc. With
my 1ncere regards, yonr Trend and obedient eervan
HAMILTON FISH.
A. this time the three months durIpg which, under
Tho treaty, the Two governments might by agreo-
meDt directly appoint commissioner had, OF course
long expired, but Mr.. Fish, this history relates was
u opinion that as he and Sir Edward Thornton had
lsrecd on Mr. Deossc and as at their joint request
Nr. Dclosse had consented 10 serve, this was sufl-
scnt and it was not necessary refer the matter to
couut Boust, AT London, at ALL But to this Sir
Edward demurrcd, believing that IL was necessary to
proceed literally accordance with tho treaty, md It
therefore determined that Count Beust should DO
appealed to. But at the tmo that he was asked
u
privately informed that both governments had agreed
on Mr.. Deifosse and that he expected therefore
only formally to confirm this agreement. This is
shown by sentence from a letter written by Count
Beust March /, 1877, TO tho Belgian Minister in
Londen, IN which he notified him that no had selected
Mr.. Dsliosse Count Bcuss wrote:--
Tho two governments prompted to name Mr.
Delfosse. who, they say, Will suit them perfectly.
In nominating him, therefore, tho Austrian Minis.
ter only conformod to tho expressed desire OF both
govern ments, and bis act was merely formal He
adds IN tho same letter.
II is desirable The authorization Of tho BELGIAN
government Tor Mr.. Defesso 10 act bo requested by
telegraph, AS the change Of administrators In tho
UnIlcd statos anu n follows M KOS II imperative
that Tho com mission hold its first sitting next Satur
lsy.
Which would havo boon tho 80 of March, Here
Count Beust was evidently In error and tho reason
or the hnste which had apparently been enjoned on
him doubtless that Mr.. Fish wished to complete
me commission before leaving Office, taking natural
pride nnishing so far as possible whc he remained
In ONCE all matters connected with tho Treaty OF
Washington.
Finally tho nomination OF Mr. Delfossc by Count
Bcust bong tclsgrapbcd to Mr. Fish IRON Lon dop ho
on tho I'D OF March, 1877, wrote the foIow,ng:--
tuyopriciALl.
DgpARrnsSr OF STATE
WASHINGTON, March -, 1877.
My DEAR Mr. DELFossE-A telegram from LONDON
has just been received conveying the intelligence OF
your sppointmcn. IS = commissioner under articles
TX 70 the Treaty Of Washington OF May =, 1871.
Pray accept my congrat uiatons and belleve
HAMILTON FISH.
Mr. MAURICE DELFossE.
To sum up, therefore, this relation shows that
First-Mr. DeIosso was disinclined to servo com.
missioner.
Second-Ho was requested aud urged by ML Fish
spd sir Edward Thornton TO sorvc
Third-In this request our governments took tho
initiative.