The New York herald., 1878-03-07
MR.. DELFOSSE'S AWARD.
How the United States Came To Be
Mulcted in $5,000,000.
SECRET HISTORY OF An APPOINTMENT
Can the Government Decline to
Pay the Award?
SECRET HISTORY OF An APPOINTMENT.
WHAT MR.. EvARTS MAY DO.

Washington, Mr.. Maurice Deliosss rs the third
missioner twenty third article Of Treaty
Of Washington ON the question OF the dsheries Tho
importance of the resolution arises partially
from the fact that Mr.. Deosse, who
virtually The arbitrator, really made against
tho United States that famous award Of
$5,50oOOO, and also from The additional circumstance
that step has thus far been taken by the govern
ment by Congress looking to the payment OF tho
award, and that loud and influential voices have boen
raised against the payment OF this sum, whIch has
been generally regarded in this country as absurdiy
excessive There In this city several exofacials
who Of the secret history Of Mr. Defosss's
appointment, which 10 supposed to be mainly respon
sibe Tor the extraordinary issue Of the arbitration.
Ex-Secretary Hamilton Fish 10 one OF these, and
although he gavo his views some important points
he naturally would what President may
yet. 't in his judgment incompatible with the public
Interests" refuse to unicate the Senate
But from another thoroughly reliable source the fol-
lowing important and accurate facts were gleaned:-
MR.. DELPossE's ARPoINrxRNr
The treaty provided for a commission to be com.
posed of three members TO be appointed by the
British, another by the United States governments
athird 'Jointly II the third member who OF course
would be the real arbitrator, was not agreed upon
within three months OF the daAo when the article OF
tho treaty went into effect, the Austrian Ambassador
Nov the United States government, before consentng
to the latter clause, had submitted to the British gov
srnment list OF diplomatic representatives from
rous dis,nterested countrss--Holand and Others at
Washington-and tho BRUSH government had declined
10 accept any Of them because they did not desire
diplomatic representative At Washington a,t as the
third member. They feared he would be In sympathy
with tho country In which he resided and which he
was accredted--namely with the United States The
f,0h nr
recsdsd from this position, and within a
few days OF the expiration of the three
months suggested another foreign dipomstst in
Washington not previously embraced In the American
list NJ Delfosse, the Belgian Minister. The United
States government rejected him mainly the ground
that the British Commissioner the Marquis RipoD
had, in conversation with member of the Ameri-
can government made this significant remark 1--WE
don't want 10 suggest Mr. Deosse for suppose you
would raise against him the objection that lie repre-
sents government supposed to be the British
influence" Other matters however. having been
settled TO the presumed advantage OF the United
States the American government consented in the
end 10 refer the selection Of the arbitrator Count
Beusa, the Austrian Ambassador In London, the
derseanding being that the Count would appoint
Mr.. Dellosso. which he did. II will thus
be that the American government, after
having first declined to accept Nr. Delfosse
the representative OF country bound by the strongest
ties ct gratitude and sympathy to British Interests,
cho, finally to consent to his appointment and thus
to incur the very heavy award which he has actually
maoc against this country Tho excessiveness Of this
award has been freely admitted by exsecretary Fish,
who, in tho Interview which follows iecares despite
his wonted diplomatic reserve, that he never antic.
pated the award to exceed from $500 900 to O00
VIEWS OF Rx-sRcRETARy FISH.
Ex-Secretary Fish, when questioned yesterday In
reference to Mr. Blainos resolution, sale: ~ SUP
pose Mr. Blane's people in Maine and all along our
coast there are naturally exercised tho heavy
award OF the Fisheries Commission against this coun-
try, ana presume that Mr. Blaine means to show
nome carnestuess In the matter and to deliver .
speech on the subect'
"Do you think the resolution was aimed at you In
any wayf Is IL Mr.. Biaine's purpose to hold you at
all responsible for the award having consented TO
Mr. Deosse's appointment"
III have every to believe that Mr.. Blaine has
mono but tho fricndlest feelings for and that he
has not aimed the resolution at In any way. At
the same time is quite that consented TO the
appointment"
'You still believe It to have been proper one, In
the light OF the present award, which suppose was
practically mado BY Mr.. Delfossesn
~ have no knowledge OF that, but merely su ppose
so from the fact that the American Commissioner
dssented from the award. You know about that just
as much as DO So much for the award. As to Mr.
Dcl0ssc, believe him to be a man OF great intellt.
Rence and perfect integrity and impartalty II had
dispute about some valuable property would not
hesitate moment to call In Mr. Delfosse az the arb-
TRAITOR"
"wnen Mr. Deosse selected what were your
Anticipations Ia reference to the award, Mr. Fish,"
Mr.. FISH AMAZED.
81 can frankly say to you that never expected it
k<xs n..tg~
was perfectly amazed when l read that the award
five Millions"
"lf Mr. Deiiosse was q perfectly fair arbitrator
how do you account for this excessive awardS"
III cau only account for 1t by the pton that
some OF the witnesses before tho commission greatly
perjurod themselves. The advantages derived by the
American nshery interest from th treaty cannot pos
siby DO equal In value to- i've millions years
Or half million per annum."
"Were the advantages considsI ably on side Mr..
Fish ?"
'Oh yes. they were, We gxvc them tho right OF
Fishery within our territorial watcrs down to the
thrty-ninth parallel, while they gave US the whole
extent OF their Atlantic side. The thirty -nnh par-
allel was fixed upon by US because we did not want
the Canadian boats TO enter Delaware or Chesapeake
Bay, where difficulties might have arisen. We also
took care In thus excluding the Canadians from the
Invaluable turtle fsherios along the coast OF Florida
Of course the preponderancs Of fish Is on the Cana
dian side, although In some years tho herring are
more numerous on the coast oa Mainen
sBut did not tho Canadians also receive valuable
advsntages?"
"Undoubtedly thcy did, and their fishermen come
far away from Nova Scotia down to Portland. Be-
sides, article q Of the treaty, which provided
that fish oil and nsh OF all kinds tescept from the
inland lakes and tho alnusnt rvers) should 10 ad
mitled Of duty either country was admitted
to be very advantageous to the Canad an fishermen,
who brought far nsh into TINS couatry than
did into Canada"
DIPLOMATIC PREcEDENTs
care you Wiling Mr. F,sp. TO give me tho main
facts as 10 Mr. Deliosse's appointment -
~ would cheerfuiy do SO n In doing 30 would