Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-16
THE FrsHER1Es QUESTION
Secretary BayRrd's Letter Ia the
PreshdenI Upon she Snbtect.

PresidenI Upon she snbject.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-The President
to-day transmitted to Congress the CORE
spondenoe in regard to the Canadian
fisheries dispute, accompanied by a letter
from Secretary Bayard. The Pre- sident
oommends to the favorable nonsid, ration
of Congress ''the suggestion that com
mission be authorized by law to tai 9 per-
petuating proofs of the losseH sustained
during the past year by American fisher
men, owing TO their unfrieDdly and un-
warranted treatment by the local authori-
ties of the maritime provinces of the
Dominion of Canada. / may have oc-
casion hereafter to make further recon-
mendations during the present session for
such remedial legislation as may become
necessary for the protection of the rights
of our citizens engaged in the open sea
fisheries in the North Atlantic waters
In his letter Secretary Bayard alludes
to the difficulties which have arisen be-
tween the two governments because of the
disputed construction of the treaty of
1918 and the attempts to adjust them by
the treaty of Washington, the fishery
clauses of the latter now having been
abrogated. He adds sit is deeply to be
ItkItlttu lDhb tub tuOIlb vi tulb utEhIb-
ment, as shown by the correspondence
now submitted, to arTive atsueh an agree
ment as wonld permit instructions Of like
tenor TO be issued by the government of
Great Britain and the United States, TO
guide the citizens of the respective nation
alities in the unmolested exercise of their
rights of fishing in the waters in question
and defining the limits Of lawful acrion
therein, have not as yet reached final
and satisfactory result"
After referring to the fact that propo-
sitions are now pending which, it is
hoped, may prove the basis of just and
permanent settlement, MIR. Bayard con-
cludes as follows: "It will be observed
in the course of this correspondence that
notification has not failed to be duly
given to the government of Great Britain
that compensation is expected for the loss
and damage caused to American fisher
men by the unwarrantable action of the
local authorities of the Dominion of Can
ada, not merely by the summary seizure
of their vessels and the exaction of heavy
fines in advance of hearing and Judgment,
but for the curtailment of privileges to
which they were justly entitled under
commercial regulations, as we'll as treaty
stipulations, and the consequent inter
ference with their legitimate voyages,
whereby the natural profits of their in
dustry were seriously diminished and in
many cases wholly destroyed.
"It would seem proper that steps in
perpetuam rel memoriam should be taken
by Congress to allow proofs to be made
and placed upon record of these losses
and injuries to our citizens, to enable
them TO be properly presented to her
majesty's government for settlen, Mt
and that for this purpose com.n,-sio,
should be authorized by Congress y 'pk.
the necessary proofs of the respective
claimants.n
The correspondence, which embraces
over hundred communications, III my o'
great length, began on May 10th, 1886,
with letter from Secretary Bayard to
Minister West, in which the former ad
mits that the treaty of 1918 precludes
Americans from fishing within three
| miles of the Canadian shores, but argues
that commercial privileges since then ex-
tended by each government to the citi-
zens of the other justifies the United
States in protesting against the seizure of
American vessels visiting the Dominion
ports for objects of trade or for proour-
ing supplies or bait. Mr.. Bayard pleads
fOrcibly for an adjustment of the matters
in dispute in a spirit of comfy with no
desire that Americans shall trespass upon
the marine rights of Canada. On May
goth, Mr.. Bayard, having received no
reply from Minister West, protested
agaiust the arbitrary seizures by Dominion
officials Of American vessels, especially
that of the David j Adams as being harsh
and unjust, and on May 22i notified him
that Great Britain would be held re-.
SponsiUle for all losses to citiz ans of the
United States caused by ths unauthorized
and uufricndly action of the Canadian
officials
On July 23d Lord Rosebsry, then
British munster of foreign affairs, wrote
10 Mr.. Bayard declining to take any
action pending the decision of the seiz
ures by the Canadian courts, but COM
planning that it was ths fault of the
| United States in failing to open negotia-
tions that compelled Canada to fall back
on q rigid enforcapent of the treaty Of
1878, which he considered justifable
under the circumstances. He indorsed
| Lord I.apsdowpe's denial Of Mr.. Bayard's
assertion that the Dominion government
was ''eeeking to invade and destroy the
commercial rights and privileges secured
to citizens of the United States by treaty
with Great Britain
This diplomatic fencing was continued
throughout the summer and fall by the
two governments, Mr.. Bayard in one let
ter warning Lord Roseberry that ''if
Great Britain should refuse to citizens of
the United States tho enjoyment of the
plainest and most undeniable of their
rights the consequences would be so seri-
Gus that they cannot be contemplated
by this government but with great
concern. f" The correspondence concludes
with a letter from Minister Phelps 10
Lord Iddesleigh, present British foreign
secretary, suggesting, as q means of pre-
venting further collisions between the
American fishermen and Canadian officials,
that an ad interim construction of the
terms of the existing treaty be reached by
mutual consent, to be carried out infor-
mally until more permanent understand
ing can be reached.
|