The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-11
FROM THE CAPITAL.
MATTERS YEsrERDAY IN AND OUT OF
CONGRESS.
The Honse Enjoys Full sway in the Capt.
tol Intelligence Received of the
Murder Of n Government on
ciaI In the South-G0neraI
News and Gossip,
THE TisHERrEs FUSS.
Text Of the Letter OF Lord Granville 10
Minister Lowell ON the Subject.

Text OF the Letter OF LORD Granville q
Minister Lowell on the Subject.
WASHINGTON, December l0.-The follow
ing Is the text OF the letter written By
Lord Granville TO U. S. Minister Lowell
at London, on the subiec: Of the New
Foundland Fisheries:
FOREIGN OFPlsE, October 81, 1880.
sIR-Her Maiesty's Government have
carefully considered the correspondence
which has taken place between their prede.
cessors and the Government OF the United
States respecting the disturbance which
occurred at Fortune Bay, on the 9Th oil
January, 1878, and they have approached
this subject with tie most earnest desire
to arrive at an amicable solution OF the
differences which have unfortunately
arisen between the two governments on
the construction OF the provisions oil
the treaties which regulate the rights OF
the United States Policemen on the coast
OF New Foundland. In the frat place, l
desire that there should be no possibility of
misconception as TO the views entertained
by Her Maiesty's Government respecting
the conduct OF the New Foundland fish.
ermen in violently interfering with the
United States fshermen and destroying
or damaging some OF their nets. Her
Msiesty's Government have no hesitation
in admitting that this proceeding was
quite indeiensible and much to be re-
gretted. No sense OF injury to their
rights, however well founded, could, un.
der the circumstances, justify the British
fishermen in taking the Law into their own
hands and committing acts OF violence.
But will revert by and By to this feature
| t. ba naon and mill nnuy praNaaI g. kkn
important question raised in this contro-
versy, whether under the treaty OF Wash
ington United States fishermen are bound
TO observe the fishery regulations OF New
IFoundland In common with British sub
jects. Without entering into any lengthy
discussion on this point, feel bound to
state that in the opinion Of Her Majesty's
Government the clause in the treaty OF
Washington, which provides that ciiizens
Of the United States shall DO 1t liberty in
common with British aubiects to fish in
New Foundland waters within the limits
OF British Sovereignty, means that Ameri-
can and British fishermen shall fish In
these waters on terms OF equality and not
that there shall be an exemption Of Amer
ican fishermen from any reasonable
regulations to which British fishermen are
subject. Her Msiesty's Government en-
tirely concurs in Mr.. Marcy's circular OF
18th OF March, 1865. The principal there.
in laid down appears to them perfectly
sound, and as applicable to the fishery pro-
visions OF the treaty Of Washington as to
those OF the treaty which Mr.. Marcy had
in view. They cannot, therefore; admit
the accuracy OF the opinion expressed in
Mr.. Eyart's letter TO Mr.. Weloh Of the 18th
of September, 1878, that the fishery rights
of the United States, conceded by the
treaty OF Washington, are to be exercised
wholly free from the restraints and regula-
tions OF the statutes OF New Foundland,
| If by that opinion anything inconsistent
with Mr.. Marcy's principle is intended,
Her Majesty 3 Government, however, fully
admit that II any such local statutes could
be shown to be inconsistent with the ex-
press stipulation, or even with the spirit OF
the treaty, they would not be
within the category of those reasonable
mon with British, tisherRen ought to be
bound; and they observe on the other
hand, with much satisfaction, that Mr..
Evarts, at the close Of his letter to Mr..
Welsh Of the first OF August, 1879, after
expressing regrets at the conflict OF inter-
ests which the exercise OF the treaty priv.
ileees enjoyed by the United States ap-
pears to have developed, expressed him
self as follows: "There is no intention on
the part OF this (the United states) Gov.
ernment that these privileges should be
abused, and no desire that their full and
free enjoyment should harm colonial
fishermen, while the differing interests
and methods OF shore fishery and
vessel tishery make It impracticable
that the regulation OF this one should be
entirely given to the other. Yet il the
mutual obligations OF the treaty oil 1871
are to be maintained, the United States
Government would gladly cooperate with
the Government OF Her Britannia Majesty
in any effort TO make these regulations q
matter OF reciprocal convenience and right
and means OF preserving the fisheries
at their highest point Of production and
OF conciliating the community OF interests
by a Just proportion OF the advantages and
profits" Her Maiesty's Government do
not interpret these expressions in any
sense derogatory to the sovereign au-
thoity OF the Great Britain waters Of New
Foundland, by which only regulations
baving force OF law, within these waters,
can be made. So regarding the proposal
they are pleased not only to recog-
nize It an Indication that the desire
OF Her Majesty's Government, 70 arrive
at friendly and speedy settlement OF tEis
question, is fully reciproCated by the Gov
eminent OF the United States, but also to
discern in 1t the basis Of practical settle'
msut otthe difficulties, and | have the
honor TO request that you will inform Mr..
Evarts that Her Majesty's Government,
with view to avoiding tuture discussion
and future misunderstanding, are quite
willing 10 confer with the Government OF
the l nited States respecting the establish
ment Of regulations under which the sub.
jects OF both parties to the treaty Of
Washington shall have full and equal
enjoyment Of any fishery which, under
that treaty, Is 10 be used in common. The
duty OF enacting and enforcing such regula'
tions, when agreed upon, would Of course
rest with tho power having sovereignty
oil the shore and waters In each case. As
regards the claims OF the United States
tishermen, for compensation for injuries
and Losses, which they are alleged to have
sustained in consequence OF violent
obstruction which they encountered from
British fishermen at Fortune Bay, on the
occasion referred to, have TO state Her
Majesty's government are quite willing
that they should be indemnltied for any
injuries and losses which upon joint
inquiry may be found to have been sus'
tained by them, and in respect to which
they are reasonably entitled to compen'
sation. Bot, on this point have to OBJ
serve that claim u pushed for
ward by them for the loss Of ash
which have been caught, or which,
through the interference Of British
fishermen, might have been caught by
means OF strand fishing, mode CT fishing
to which, under the treaty Of Washington
they were not entitled to resort, the
prosecution by them ot strand hshing
being clearly IN excess Of their treaty priv
: ileges. Her MajiSty's GoVornment canEo
doubt that on further consideration thE
1 -tn iNa AHn