New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-22
WHAT THE LETTERS SAY.

WHAT THE LETTERS SAY.
NEGLECT AND EVASION on THE PART OF ENGLAND
-DELFossE NOT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS CoUN-
TRY.
WASHINGTON, March 21.-ln response TO
Senator Bane resolution. adopted by the senate ."
the 18th ins the President transmitted 10 that body
the correspondence with Great Britain relative to
the selection Of NJ Delosse Minister from Belgium ms
the third commissioner under the tweny-thlrd article
the Treaty OF Washington on the question OF hsnereS
SIX NAMES PROPOSED.
Tho correspondence Is volumnOus. IL opens WIN
note to Sir Edward Thornton from Mr. Davis, Acting
Secretary of state dated July T. 1873, In which hir.
Davis said that the necessary legislation to carry into
effect the articles OF the treaty OF Nays 1871 having
gone into effect 1t necessary that the two Govern
ments should agree upon third commissioner on the
fishery question. Mr.. Davis said:
In your conversations the subject which have taken
place between Secretary Fish and yourself at various
times FOR several months past, yo VIII douDtiess re-
member how decidedly he expressed his opinion tat "
would be better both countries that they should
agree upon tho third commissioner possible ana tbat
IN no should any person be thought OF in that
capacity who thoroughly familiar with the English
language The Secretary IL deeply Impressed with inc
opinion that unless the two Governments can soon agree
upon third commissioner the arbitration will be carried
over 10 another season.
In order TO avoid such contingency. Sir Edward
Thornton was Informed that this Government was Will
Ing 10 take the Initiative and Mr. Davis suggested to the
British Minister tho names OF MarescAl. the Mexican
Minister: Ofenbcrg tie Russian Minister; Borges the
Brazilian Minister; Polo the Spanish Minister; Noales,
the French Minister and Barnhard the Minister OF the
Netherlands from whom to select ading thar the Pres-
ident would In the choice OF any one Of these gen
temen as the third commissioner, should Lord Granville
be wiling to Intimate preference. The Secretary
omitted the name Of COrt the Italian Minister, who ut
thar time engaged In the execution OF a similar
trust under the treaty II was supposed this might pre-
lis acceptance of the trust in relation TO the fish
cries but Mr. Davis SAID that should he be willing to un-
dertake II. and should Lord Granville prefer to name
him. the President would concur In the nomination
sir Edward Thornton replied to Acting Secretary
Davis on the 10th of July saying that he had tee-
graphcd the tenor OF Sir Davis's note to Earl Granville
day of s receipt and had since them transmitted
a coy OF the note itself to his Lordsinp by mail On
the 2Gh OF August, sir Edward addressed MI. Davis a
note. saying:
As the matter, which TO be considered by tie
Commits Sioncrs deeply concern the people OF Canada
Il was necessary Ia consult the Government oil the Do
uiniou upun Il point OF much Importance rs the
appointment Of third commissioner, and some delay IN
answering Mr.. Davis- note was Therefore unn.1iape
Malesty's Government has received communication
from his EXcccucy. the t'oycrnor'eneral OF Canada
Ia the chtct that rue hnSe.hhot ui ,ic Don''uo"
strongly objects Ia the appointment or any foreign MIN
prefers to resort TO the alternative proposed By tue
treaty namely to leave the nomination to the Austrian
Ambas sador NJ London.
Secretary Fish replied 10 Sir Edward Thornton on the
9th OF september, saying:
not distinctly stated In your note that her Maj
eSiys has decided To frinlnish que eh1rt 10
select the third commissioner conformity with the Presi
dent. and 10 abandon the mode pointed ont Ivy the
treaty for the appoinnen 81 ths tnrd ,
provided for their JOINT action had expired The article
hook eject ON The LIT day OF July last The three
months within which tue two Governments were 10
make their JOINT effort for "A coD1ont appointment viii
consequently not expire until the last of September
The Secretary then proceeded to remind Sir Edward
OF the several informal communications between them
IN anticipation OF the time when the article took effect
as To selection Of third commissioner in pursuance
OF the terms OF the treaty, and said:
Tho President learns with regret that in the List OF
names presented the note of July for the cOnsdera
ton Of her Majesty one was found IN whom her Gov
eminent was willing 10 conhdc. Inc President, never
fhcc-s retains the fullest confidence In the lmpartillty
independence, Intelligence, aud integrity OF each
note TO tie prope aud Dominion Of Canada
SEEMS ~ imply u practical transfer 10 that province
Of right nomination which the treaty eyeS Ia Her
Majesty. The President l. OF opinion that refusal
lis part TO make nomination or abstinence on hls
part effort To concur in the iOni nomination con
',,r nsinrc, maj of The t.hormen al touctscr
opposed to the Irmlly mode 81 hns the ComnS'
intended Ivy the treaty might well TEE regarded by
Her Majesty- Government departure from the let
Ter and spirit Of thr treaty. and might Justify IL IN
and POSSIBLY m hesltang rs to lis future
" i. noticed. however. with much satisfaction.
that Her Majesty Government has not ex
pressed determination to abandon the joint rsht
Of. nomination wlch the treaty repo'es IN
Ter MIr.y ana sne fG,sr1 pr,yuc Of y%, ho
understood TO be IN explanation OF the fact that 80 long
nomination was to he made had elhI Sed between the
date and the acknowledgment oi the note Of the lh Of
eTiization Of the Commission as contemplated by the
treaty. and 1t Is earnestly hoped that within the re-
naming part Of the three months allowed for coont
nomination Her Majestys Government may mud II con
sscnt with then views NO; to maSe choice OF one OF
the gentlemen proposed by the President to propose
some some others for his consideration.
MR.. TmoRNToN's COUNTER SUGGESTION.
SIR Edward Thornton, on tho 2ltn OF September, al
dressed note in reply to . former communication from
Mr. Davis in which he said that towards the end of the
June preceding he had the honor In compliance with
instruction from Earl Granville, Inform Mr. Fish that
there difficulty In finding person to act as third
Commissioner Her Maesty's Government proposed that
Ministers OF the United States and of Her Majesty AT
the Hague should he authorized TO II they could
agree upon Dutch gentleman TO act rs third Com
missioner who would be acceptable 10 bOtr Govern
ncnts. Sir Edward remarks:
Mr. Fish recently stated to me that as had made
this proposal verbally, he had not looked upon 1t
official communication. have now been intrusted by
Lord Granville 10 repeat tho above mentioned proposal
the United States Government III more Official form.
wiling he United states Government To take IL into
sidcration, ana OF expressing my hope ihat IL may be
able TO agree to tho proposal then made Dy Her Males
tvs Government.
Mr.. Fish replied 10 Sir Edward on the 30th of septem-
Der, remarkng, among other things
am directed by the President to say that the plan for
naming third Commissioner thus proposed by Her
Maesy's Government from the provisions Of the
treaty winch received the CONSTITUTIONAL assent OF
the senate The President therefore. does not feel him
self NJ liberty to entertain proposal which would
quIro the conclusion OF treaty in the consttu
tona form before the proposal could he
the United states Is deeply Ia be regret ed that Her
Majesty's Government has made effort TO comply
with that provision Of the twentythird article of the
treaty whereby 1t agreed that the third Com
missioner should be named by the President
of the United States and Her Britannia Ma
esty conformity. although the time within which
the Coy crnments were TO have made the Joint
nation expired to-day yet tho fact that Lord Granville
authorized so Important proposal 10 he made close
% be ay
that Her Aiesty's Government may be disposed
regard that fact important, and that ID may yet
willing 10 eMdeaYOr 10 into execution