The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-11
THE HALIrIx FISHERIES AWARD.
CorresDondenes thnt Forecasts Legislation In
the Coming sessIon.

salient points in Secretary Evartss letter Of
Sept q to Minister Welsh. giving tho views Of
our Government on the award Of the Halifax
Fisheries Commission.
This correspondence reoucns the cntire sub
icct II tho Halifax fishery award and makcs
legislation upon the payment Of tho award not
improbable during the coming session. The
passage OF the amendment to the Sundry Civil
bill, placing f5.500.000 Mt the disposition OF the
Executive for tho payment OF the award was
nearly the only Legislative act upon which the
Administration insisted. Tho entire Cabinet
with Hayes. were at tho Capitol the last night
~ the session. and 1t was explicitly said and
clearly understood that unless this appropria-
ton was made au extra session would he
called. Such Il session would have ruined the
political prospects Of many members anxious
to return TO their districts nndthe threat constl-
tuted the strongest pressure that could have
been brought to bear on the House
Even with this threat the appropriation
was passed only in the face Of the strongest OPP
position. and Gen. Butler In II speech lie then
made presented nearly every ground for tho
prepayment OF the award now pr p, ger, by
" Commissioners making the awnrd. TO which
Mr.. Evarts refers rs throwing doubt upon the
obligation under which the British Foreign Or
Ace assumes this Government to rest. was ex-
pressly, insisted on by him. and the rights
claimed under colonial laws TO ,obstruct the
privileges granted in the treaty did not escape
Gen. Butlnr's notice. Now that the Admins
tration itself reopens the question upon grounds
substantially like those upon which strong
MINORITY claimed the right To II full inquiry by
the Legislature OF this country before payment
was made Of the award, IL IS extremely proba-
bic thhl th" House viii insist on making this
inquiry OF its own motion.
ptr,sIssNo r stAI,. ,sniSeToS, sept -, 1879
SIN. am directed bN The President tu present the
attention ct her Majesty Government the sentiments of
,hi, "a,,rnmcn, rc,rec tns the result 81 ne dehbcIa
determination OF the question submitted 10 1t under Tie
aruces" the Treaty vi Washington relating To the Fish
llthe award in respect to the fisheries had relation
that j. hs government might prefer to waive any dis
interest," Of e tS cnn, s bn ih. aaS Sl @
at liberty To treat The fisheries OF this limited
Tie aseries b the treaty OF Washington is termn@be
at The pleasure Of either party ~ less than seven years
81 the treaty ARRANGEMENTS will have exhausted it,
MINATED privilege II this Oovernrnt Nv Silent payment
oi the award should seem To have oenzed The princi
assumed asserted Nv hcr Majesty ; Government, Il
bccome NECESSARY To- usst upnn the aud seen, To- have
cnncca,ed or di..enblrd T. octiu. I" ~" award when
uf"nt hnmih was entitled To al immediate and open
In The dr.. place the United staie. in the fishery .rt
cle- VI the frcaN Washing ION an not iuird IT, amt
dd not waive ar cuftal m The hast the construction
nr,t artcle oi ihc Convention ct Isls d, claimed ~
such claim al AMI before the negotiation ct "a. treaty Of
Ma.hingou The tinted states sili maintains - inter.
ISIS snd protests sEsi1,l 9S implication from The mag
,yisc tenn ~. r.....,iu,s n'ir 49,, 49,. -, a. V,,
ton. that The United states hsyc aneoncd Or acuescd
~ % ,a % o1 ,es nn M s,,hssa
% is well known 20 lirr MNcsty's Government they
have aiwavs insisted upon
In TIE p ,re. tie uitet states did not submit to
the Halifax Commission. under the nshery artceso the
IfcaiY OF Na,hinSon any Nasaao1 o am vsneral eco
8" h~hins grounds tor e development oi rcante
woui ~ enhanced y adng The ARA OF the nshore .h.
eres 3" the uui OF SAINT Lawrence To the ncds Tor nAt
rim . 10 Il
r. d the lni;sI states submit l. .hat commission
rvcuninry measurement OF the removal OF occss,ons ii
slrIe 7. tn'en iNH nshrrmeu. on misunderstanding be-
tween the 'ovrrn -is ct the two countries hy
porar, "bhtcrauon oi restrictive line dividing tr H.
ss5rs i' S'.a ''e' On PORTIONS OF the coast
II seems to ms nu'rrmnen quite certain that upon
the concurrng action of uie Two Governments. ia the
pria- pro,, wIai the rrnuisrv vains II our narflna
lon in the in>horr ,krfs fisher, ct the Guli ~
Lawrence ~as iairis rstlnnhc at constituted the
HALIFAX Commission AGAINST the United states
Mr.. Evarts goes on to argue that II the ma
j0riiy NJ the Commission based their award
upon something else. they exceeded their au-
shortly. md the matter remains open. In tho
fvc fishing seasons ut the treaty period which
have elapsed. tue profit to American fisher
men from the inshorr fishery has been $4,000
Tor thc twelve sjoOooG At tho Very
utmost. accepting Canadian computations. the
year--a !uie more than ono.luarter 81 tho
award. Moreover. the Commission was re-
CURED to deduct the value 70 the Provincial
ishermcn " the concession Of free market in
the United States. Al the lowest estimate this
i worth IN them tl5O.uD1 year, or 81 ,s0u.DnO
LOT 1ne ,%fNe Ss"Ts, y ciear' IN MI Lfar,s
more than they gained. Ho continues;
H. A. shan not cca.e TO Anticipate her Maesy's GOV
Halifax Commission not Lesn adequately d.Io~ei VI
~ NE eonsarrlns ss,yletS ne wa, VIII .e-ln 10
n"ni and comprehensive settlement of the fishery inter
OF Washington
no qn.uon presented the face ol the award OF the
GlalnaN Nummlssiou viz. whether the urfenre
The three Commissioners IN their uwa required D.,
a. GrrHi Britain and ~ thr provinces beir, ami drr,ng
the sitting OF the Commission In this discussion, far
nnanmst va. fequircd hy he teaiy In th, ronir,
~ MATER iue considered either because The Brii
ish view ~ Tho subject Mas accepted. because
any interest The question The point up nov
Tor the nrst umr. fr consideration between the two
Hovernmehi. and vii! need attention RON either only
IA case her Majesty Government should fail g. concur
award on We grave ground. ALREADY presented.
la submitting ~ her Nalesis "9vernmeni The failure
IN this Interpretation q Tie treaty. i requisite 10 the
undue stress tnis objection II her Majesty GOV
eminent eoncurs ~ uiis continuation of the authority
conferred upon the Halifax Commission this agreement
between the GoVernnenis will enable them IRE ntl
~ make more complete. ~ well A. more satisfactory
Ana commeree u ne po,ines' and e ts tnited STATE.
Government shall announce u this Government their
majority OF the Comm waTrant, Nalid award
Notwithstanding the declared dissent NJ the thru com
missioner this Government will hut refuse to accord
that opinion thus expressed all the weight which 1t de-
slres Tor iis views
You wal therefore sAy 20 Lord salisbury that upon
such declared Disagreement upon the true terprca.
ton the treaty Of ulaninity OF tie Commits
sOners This Governments will regard the maintenance Of
enrr good lu an mutual respect In all dealings under
the beneacrnt Treaty of Washington. OF paramount
concern. and will not assume 10 press it, own interpI
ALons Of the treaty On TINS point against the deber&
Interpretation 81 her MnJesiys Government To the
trarN
You will promptly communicate these views to her
Majesty Government by delivering a copy al this de-
spatc 10 Lord salisbury ana guessing eurN attcn
ten1Ion To It's contsnts l am Ar, a. VIZ VI. E'Agrs
SUNDAY MORNINGS FOOTRACE