New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-13
WHAT NJ. DELFOSSE SAYS.
THE AWARD AT HALIFAX BINDING-iHE CANADIANS
VNpER THE INPR ssION THAT THEY ARE BADLY
- ,ur rtsurpIFs

THE AWARD AT HALIFAX BGNDING-iHE CANADIANS
UxpER THE INPR ssI0N THAT THEY ARE BADLY
INJURED IN THE FISHERIES.
10y TELEGRAPH TO The TRrBuNEl
WAsHINGroN March I'm the course OF con-
,ration this afternoon Minister Delfosse, the rep
.,,ative NJ the Government OF Belgium in the
United States and lately member of the FISHERIES
Commission which met at Halifax. expressed to
eorrrSpoudent of luz IRIBUNE some surprise al the
sect the fishery question has taken within the last
,ey, DAYS and the manner in which his name is beng
used IN connection with H.
NJ Delfosso said that be had consented with 'he
er.1tcst reluctance, and only after persistent utg
- from both sides. TO accept a seat III
the commission. The American people look
only upon one side OF the matter as yet,
he said. To the Canadians 1t appears very
differently. They feel that they have been robbed
# actual property. driven away from markets that
h.long IA them by our protective tariff, and pre-
,ented nv American competition from enjoying the
,nll fruiis of their own fisheries Citizens OF the
United States have gained he continued, by theIoady
access 10 the whole of their coast while the United
STATES has given British subjects right 10 fish on
only small portion Of IL own. The fisheries along
the Canadian coast. to which American fishermen
r,sort are Gcku0w lodged 10 he OF tie greatest
value. while those Ou that part Cf OHr cnis.s
where the Siritish CClopists are permitted 10
Ash ate almost worthless. The question has been an
open for year., NJ Delios'e SAID ard has eeenol
sufficient importance to receive The extended con-
sidrririon OF The highest authorizes III hOth Inc
American and British Governments. II has been
made tie subject of several formal treaties. and Fct
% wide apart are the different views that n hS been
CO.'S ant bone Of contention. me SOo "occt OF tie
meeting Of the Halifax Commission was 70 CONSIDER
The interests of bot sides aud aIliyc ~ lalr h-iS
Of settlement. The members of tEo commission
had given six months 10 the business dU4ing winch
every opportunity had been afforded pojh SIDES 10
.,t,gt doc 'titIl Ief 2
reached was arrived at IA tlo 1ui Isnt oil the l"c''
presented.
"Now." said NJ. Dslfosse, els it right that public
,rinion should 90 back Of that decision and be
'ormed upon Information non the standpoint Of bnt
,ne Of te parties Interested" NJ. Dcifosse thinks
The idea that the award of the commission Is not
binding because il was not unanimous IS absurd. II
had been the intention Of the. trainers OF ne
treaty OF 1871 10 require an UNANIMOUS NeIdIct 70
nal e il binding thai. lac thinks. wculd nave been
he wording of the treaty itself The OMISSION OF
such clause aud the insertion OF PROVISION that
m. commission should consist of three members one
Of whom should not be a cltiLen OF elthef OF inc
countries interested, he considered to be ample CN-
dence that the trainers lntenoed to make PROVISION
against any disagreement between the interested
parties.
NJ. Delfcsse saws if there is any truth il the
story now circulated that Lord RipOn made re-
mark in regard to The imprOpriety Of his appoint
meni when he Was tiIst mentioned ioi seat on the
commission. he knew nothing OF II a TIE tine ana
la. remained IN ignorance of IT until nov. He
thinks, moreover. that u ihe report - true'
iOrh parties treated him with injustice III not haV-
ing told hun OF it at the time ,
Conversations within "a day or two with other
Gentlemen who were officially connected win the
Halifax Commission. disclose tine fact that they
arr.c with the universal public sentiment on this
s:le the line, that the award made was excessive :;
but they think u unfortunate That the Gp-
pOintment of Minister DclfosSe should be
TIE subject Of investigation. No evidence
Is produced and probably none exists involving the
integrity Of NJ DelfoSsc's motive the Impair
tahty OF his action ia connection with the commits
SION.
Tie Canadians are understood 10 be quite gencT-
ay Of tie opinion that the award is too small, but
they show o fair degree of resignation under the
circumstances.