Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-12-05
THE FISHERIES DISPUTE.
Urging Congress to Take Prompt Actio,
Toward Settlement

Urging Congress to Take Prompt Action
Toward a Settlement
In pursuance of a constitutional provision re-
curing the President from time to time to give
to the Congress information of The state Of the
Union, have the satisfaction TO announce that
the close of the year find the United States in
the enjoyment Of domestic tranquility and at
peace with al atoms. Since my last annual
message our foreign relations have been strongly
aon gooG oaes pnd SV ne%
and renewed treaties of amity, COM
merce and reciprocal extradition of criminals.
Those international questions which still awe it
settlement are all reasonably within the domain
OF amicable negotiation and there is no existing
subject of dispute between the United States and
any foreign power that is not susceptible OF
satisfactory adjustment by frank diplomatic
treatment The questions between Great Britain
and the United states relating to the rights OF
American fishermen under treaty and interna-
tional comfy in the territorial waters of Canada
and New FOundland. regret to say are not yet
satisfactorily adjusted. These matters were fully
treated in my message to the Senate of February
20, 1883. together with which convention, con-
cluded under my authority with her majestys
government on the 18th of February, last, for the
removal of all causes of Misunderstanding was
submitted by me for the approval of the Senate.
This treaty having been rejected by the Senate,
transmitted message to the Congress on the
on the 23d of August last. reviewing the trans
actions and submitting for consideration GER
tain recommendations for legislation concerning
the important questions involved. Afterward
on the 18th ri september In response TO a resolu-
ton of the Ssnate again communicated fully
all the Information In my possession
as to the action of the government
ct Csnads affecting the n1 TSa n ea
States including the statement of American ship
ping vessels i'll the ports and waters of British
North America. The communications have all
been published, and therefore opened to the
knowledge of both houses of Congress, although
two were addressed to the Senate alone. Com
ment upon or repetition Of their contents would
be superfuous, and 1 am not aware that any
thing has since occurred which should be added
to the facts therein stated. Therefore, merely
repeat as applicable to the present time, the
statement which will be found in my message to
the Senat- of September II last: THAT since
March 8, 1887, no case has been reported to the
Department OF State wherein complaint has been
made of unfriendly or unlawful treatment of
Canadian authorities, in which reparatton was
not promptly and satisfactorily obtained by the
United States consulgeneral at Halifax
Having essayed in the discharge of my duty
| to procure by negotiation the settlement of q
| long standing cause of dispute and to remove q
constant menace to the good relations of the two
countries and continuing of the opinion that the
treaty of February last, which failed to receive
| the approval of the senate, did supply sal lis
| factory, practical and final adjustment upon a
basis honorable and just both parties. of the
difficult and vexed question to which it related,
and having subsequently and unavailingly rec
commended other legislation to Congress which
l hoped would suffice to meet the exigency Gre
ated by the rejection of the treaty. now again
| the Congress to the condition of this important
| question as 1t now stands before them and the
country and for the settlement of which ] am
| deeply solicitous.