New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-26
ExTpacTs FROM THE LETTERS.
MR. FISH PRESSES THE DEsiRABiIirf OF CON-
JOINT NOMINATION., WHICH MR.. THORNTON
STEADILY EvADES.

STEADILY EvADES.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUNE.l
WASHINGTON March 25.-The correspondence
between the Secretary of State and the British
Minister in regard to the selection of Defosse as
tb;rd Commissioner in the fisheries arbitration Will
he laid before the Senate in printed form tomorrow
The full text of the correspondence will be read
with great interest, and will disclose steady ana
pndeniable effort on the part of the British Govern
meut from the outset to secure the services OF NJ
Delfosse third arbitrator.
The first letter is from Mr. Bancroft Davis. Assist
ant-secretary of State. to Sir Edward Thornton
July z, 1873. The fishery clause had gone into
effect on the first day of July, and three months
only from that date were allowed the two Govern
,nsnts 10 select the third commissioner and in the
event of failure to agree the Austrian Ambassador
Of London was to name him. Mr. Fish was anxious
IN avoid that alternative will be seen from the
following extract from the letter of Mr. Davis:
In several Conversations this subject which have
taken p sSers months past You viii doubtless reo
her how decidedly he expressed the OPINION that ~ VIII
ge Commssioner if possible and that any event.
shoud he thought OF in that capacity VIII
,Snrnrgly FAMILIAR with the English language In these
Interviews several were put forward by way OF
suggestion but unofeiy ana without COMING 20 Tp
posed taken from the Diplomatic Corps at WashnG
70 name none those who have the necessary laml
arity with The Engsa aeGe noea connection
stSer Goyernments with Great Britain, would proba-
bly, esteem themselves disqualined Tor the poSiuoh'
The closing sentence understood to refer to
the Ministers from Belgium and Portugal, these
countries being regarded, IN the language of mea-
her of the Joint High Commission. las mere PROV
;nces Of England" Sir Edward Thornton, on the
18th of july, briefly acknowledged the receipt OF
Mr. Dayis's note, and informed him that he had
tseOraDhed its substance to Lord Granville British
Secretary of Foreign Affairs. He was then silent
for a long time pleading verbally. 1t was under
STOOL that he had no instructions from his Govern
ment At the end of six weeks, August 10, Sir
Edward wrote to Mr.. Fish from Catskil Station,
where be was spending the Summer. Sir Edward
utterly ignored the position of our Government with
reference TO the Belgian Minister, writing thus to
Mr. Fish:
You nav remember that when last saw you at wash
ington spoke yon upon the subject OF the Belgian
on the commission which Is to Halifax subse-
,pS ne 10 ascertain whether the Belgian Minister would
be agreeable TO the Government Of the United states as
Sersed with With You upon the subject and had
come to the conclusion that he W0n dsord hUt
afternoon from Glenclyhe found telegran
in which Lord Granville desired me 10 hK sGa
OF the Belgian Minister wh0 as he believes wou1 pe
all respects as yo pe W rSonsder this after for
cannot believe that NJ. Deosse would De an inpar
United states would be- if anything rather to our disad
vantage than otEerwlse.
A PUNGENr REPLY BY MP. FIsH.
Sir Edwards note seems TO have irritated MI
Fish: ard in his reply he shows as much temper
and resentment as diplomatic courtesy wouio per-
mit. The following are liberal extracts from this
reply, written from Mr. tlshs summer mum" "'
Garrisons, August 81. 1873:
cannot persuede myself but that the telegraph must
have made grave mistake either Ia tne Ut ms
ssop nj yonr communication to LORD GralVlLe OF le IL
shty Of this Government to assent TO the selection OF
the Belgian Minister or IN tna' 70 you hs o a s Of
the views OF this Government with regard TO his
to be the Greater in view Of what you viii
in reminding you o t1aI d some sGe Inc
names of several genteInen o. doeeS f
feady to agree upon. each OF whom believed TO be
peculiarly competent and suitable for the position ana
oVerpeDt would have objections that note and
is proposition no reply has been recSvga inc
and proprety the part Of the British Government 90
oW me 70 peSwe a % n w tas S
that could not accept certain person as ,ne 10
present the name of that person; 49,. ,oo,, CANA
To strengthen tho conviction that there has neen some
which telegraph must be responsible n me inter
nsw %s9 sG that Z While Entertaining a h9h
soas regard for tho character anu n ,n ~. ~
t 1es Bei IN the Political relations Of his
ment and that of Great Britain why the rerssenave
and Indifferent arbitrator On n no S .se
When The JOINT High Commission was IN session, IN
Washington, during discussion concerning proposed
reference TO or more heads OF Foreign stes, Ear
We Ff %, T ns%s Bes@m tie relations
might make 1t unacceptable TO the United states as .
referee There disscnt expressed by either OF
assigned by the Earl De Grey for withholding
the Of that State In that connection on the
part Of the American Comm.soner We et the dencaey
Of the conclusion and the propriey and utness OF iDe
am not aware tina, tho relations to which Lord
De Grey referred have been materially changed
MIR. THORNTON USING UP TIME.
week after this sharp and pungeDt note from
Dir. Fish, August 26, Sir Edward Thornton replied
10 Mr.. bancroft Dayiss note of July Ia delay of
lust fifty days. and then he entirely changed his
ground and introduced new element into the
controversv a. will be seen from the following ex
tracts from bis letter
A tho matters which are to be considered by this
COMMISSION deeply concern the people OF Canada " was
necessary consult fle Government OF me Doiign
upon point OF much importance as the
appointment OF a ,iird Commissioner, and some
delay was therefore unavoidable. 4 have nov Dow bow,
Government mas received communcaiion if9 o., t me
EIceleucy the Govesnor-Genera OF Canaaa, 10 ene
cls TO the appointment OF any OF inc foreign n:S,Si
residing at Washington as ihra cOn r ON ' ~
the alternative provided by the treaty namely 70 cave
the nomination 10 the Austrian AmossaooF at bohuo
This reference to the Dominion OF CANADA seems
again, and very naturally, TO have cisgusted Mr.
Fish. Under date OF September d, he wfi'es sir
Edward very plain communication, from winch
the following is extracted:
The President learns with regret that N tne s ss VI
names presented ia the note OF July lor Tue % @
SGn Of ner Majesty no one waS on W. con,de The
President retains Inc fullest III
tne impartay independence ntegshee sa IN
your note TO the people aud Dominion OF chnaa seems