New-York tribune., 1878-03-30
THE HALIFAX COMMISSION.
APLAIN STATEMENT BY MR.. FISH.

ADOPTED.
Ex-Secretary of State Hamilton Fish yesterday
made a clear statement to n representative OF HE
TRIBUNE Of the facts connected with the appoint
ment of the third member of the Fisheries Commits
sion. 1t has been recently pubishcd that, having
objected TO the appointment of NJ Delfosse IN
1873, Mr. Fish, in 1877, actually took the initia-
tive i'll requesting hm TO serve. This Mr.. Fish yes
terday declared to be inaccurate. and to a TRIBUNE
reporter gave the following review of the circum-
stances, which finally resulted in the appointment
Of the Belgian Minister at Washington:
"By the treaty of Washington the provisions re-
latiDg to the fisheries could take effect only after
confirmatory legislation by the Dominion. the lm-
perial Government and the United States. On OF
about March 8. 1873. the necessary act was passed
by Congress- when we had already enjoyed the fish
cries for two seasons. On March g. Sir Edward
Thornton called upon and in the OF infor-
NAL conversation. adverted to the desrabity OF
agreeing upon third commissioner. suggested, en-
tirely unoiicially, the name Of Judge Nelson, re-
marking that he would probably be acceptable to
our Government. in case he were willing TO serve.
Mr.. Thornton tAereupon, unoflcially and informally,
suggested the name of Mr.. Agassiz, and said that
if he were proposed by the English Government he
would be acceptable to ours. Sir Edward usually
called at the Department of State every week. and
upon the occasion of nearly every visit, from
March 8 to Juue 26, l referred to the
subject of the third commissioner, and
urged the Importance of his selection Sir Edward
early in the Spring asked when, according to my
understanding. the three months within which the
agreement upon the third commissioners must be
had. were to begin. told him that they would
date from July l. and it was with that understand
ing that our discussions of the appointment were
held. Upon occasion Mr.. Thornton said that he
had thought of Admiral Polo as the third commits
siOner On March 6, had officially requested MIR.
Thornton to ask for instructions from his Govern
mcnt as to tho third member of the commission,
suggesting that although the three months would
not begin until July l. it was desirable to come to
an agreement before that time in order that the COM
mission might meet at Halifax the following SUM
mer or FALL and conclude its deliberations, if posi-
be before cold weather. From time to time
thereafter in reply TO the question whether
or not he had received instructions. he replied
that he had not. On May ~, he told me
that he was expecting Instructions On
May 15 he asked unofficay and privately if onr
Government would agree to NJ. Delfosse. replied
that there would be a difficulty the way of his a-
pointment and the name was thcraupon dropped for
a time. As late rs June .. Mr. Thornton Informed
me that he had received no instructions. On Jane
20. he told me that he was instructed TO say that
Lord Granville regretted that his Government bad
not been able to determine upon a third commits
sioner and proposed that the third commissioners
should be Dutchman, agreed upon by the English
and American Ministers az the Hague | told him
that the proposal struck me very unfayorably. Tic
correspondence sent to the Senate gives the facts
after this date. My purpose has been. by the re-
view Of the conversations between Sir. Thornton
and myself TO show that our Government was con-
stantly urging the appointment OF n third member
of the commission. and that the British Govern
rnent was as persistently avoiding the appointment
"Thcn followed the abortiye attempt 10 secure
reciprocity treaty. and pending the negotiations, by
request of the British Government, the FISHERIES
question was dropped After the failure of the rec-
procity treaty, Mr. Thornton from time 10 time
expressed the wish that the appointment of thru
member of tho commission shonld be referred TO
Count Beust, Austrian Ambassador at London. To-
that always interposcd objections, hoping that an
understanding might he arrived at between the two
Governments in which case Count Beust could be
given the name the gentleman agreed upon for his
formal appointment. Finally, as the close OF the
Administration was approaching. felt that before
its termination the provisions of the treaty should
be carried ont respecting the appointment Of Fish
cries Commission, for England had paid the money
awarded To US at Geneva, and had settled
~
award with exemplary promptness and IT would
be discreditable to us to keep longer in allegiance
question the determination of which woud possibly
reanirc payment of money by TO England.
therefore in the early part of February. 1877, at
the close Of conversation on other subjects, ex-
pressed this feeling to SIR Edward Thornton. and
inquired if his Government was ready to act In the
matter. lie replied that he had no instructions.
The name of ". Delfosse being introduced. ! said
tha. if they would propose him, it was probable that
we might accept him. / was Influenced to say what
did in view of the fact that early AZ 1873. the
President had admitted that NJ. Deifosse was "A
man of Intelligence and integrity and had stated
to Mr. Thornton the fact saying that our objections
to him were in 10 wise personal. was
further strongly Influenced by the belief that it
possible that unless the two Governments reached
an understandings Count Beust. surrounded by
British influences, might appoint a Canadian or
some prejudiced person. or one more under British
influence. had, however, no idea that award
of more than $500, 900 or 800, 900 could be made
against the United States. Inever regarded the in
shore fisheries as of great commercial value, but
thought it very desirable that this cause Of iTrita-
ton should be permanently removed. believed
that we had given the Canadians an equivalent and
that an award of few hundred thousand dollars
would be rather for the purpose of soothing their
feelings than rs a Just compensation for tho differ
ence between concessions given and received
"On February o. Mr.. Thornton called at the de-
partuent and informed me that he had received IN
structioDs from his Government t0Suggcst NJ. Del
fosse as the third commissioner. / informed him
that NJ Dcllossc would be accepted by us, and that
we would instruct minister at Vienna to unite
with the British Ambassador in an identc note to
the Austrian Government, requesting that their En-
bassador at London be allowed to name the third
commis ssionor, pursuant to the treaty. This, Of
course, was with the understanding that NJ. Dciosso
would be named. In the afternoon of the same day.
February 8, Mr.. Thornton again called and told me
IL. L LII lnlrn.sa xZln Gnnsnnlel To