Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-07
EXPLAINING THE E::TREATY.
Papers Sent to the Senate by the President
for Consideration.


for Consideration.
| WAsHINeToN, March 5.-The President
has submitted to Congress the remaining
documents and protocols relating to the
fisheries treaty, together with a letter from
Secretary Bayard. In his letter Secretary
Bayard says: THE inspection OF this doc
umentary history will serve to demonstrate
the practical and important results accom-
plished by the treaty now pending before
| the Senate, by which the question of the in
terpretation and administration of the
treaty of 1918 between the United States
and Great Britain is transferred and ele-
waited from the obscurity into which it has
| been suffered to lapse since the date of that
| convention, and it's restoration from the
practical control OF the minor and local Off
| clals OF the Canadian maritime provinces.
Until the treaty now pending was concluded
| NO AVAILABLE REMEDY
seems to have been supplied for the incon-
| sistencies, incongruities and unjustifiable
| construction of the treaty of 1918 to
which our fishermen, for year after year,
| have been subjected, and which, by the
progress OF gradual encroachments of
Canadian legislation and local port regua-
tions, had almost converted their privilege
expressly reserved by treaty into sources
OF Inconvenience and expense. The pretext
OR causes alleged for the arrests, fines, de-
tentions and other embarrassments of
American fishing vessels during the years
1885 and 1887 were based upon alleged
infractions of the treaty OF 1918, or of the
Canadian laws passed in professed execu-
ton OF that treaty. All such vexatious
=, ,i.,-I. l., +
etc, is met and rendered impossible Of os.
currence in future by the provisions OF the
treaty now before the Senate, and the
amplest Joy cut by the United States
fishermen OF the treaty rights and Gus
tomary hos pitality due underinternational
law and Gently
is RECEIVED
in the ports and harbors of Eastern Can
ada and Newfoundland. The correspond
ence will serve also to establish the fact
that prior to the treaty of reciprocity of
1854 and subsequent to its abrogation and
in the years 1870 and 1871 the most vexa-
tious and harassing administration of the
treaty bv the Canadian authorities was
practiced unchecked. As neither the treaty
of 1854 nor that OF 1871 contained any
allusiOn to the wrongs thus inflicted upon
the United States fishermen, and as neither
convention contained any remedy or pro-
vision against their renewal and repetition,
it became necessary that a remedy should
no longer be unprovided. 1t is believed
such remedy is practicable and fully sup
piled by the treaty now pending and that
by it's terms now and for the first time
since 1918, a just and
JOINT INTERPRETATION
is agreed to by both Governments and
placed upon the treaty OF 1918, which will
secure just and hospitable treatment to
our fisherman and secure to them unmO-
Tested full measure of their rights, and
that under the proposed a arrangement every
American fisherman pushing his vocation
in waters adjacent to British North Ameri'
ca can acquire a clear understanding OF his
rights ard duties whilst within the iuris-
dction of all waters OF Canada or going to
such ports aid harbors az casualty, neces-
sity or convenience may suggest without
fear OF enCOunterlng any such harsh and
unfrendly treatment as he was heretofore
subjected t. under uncertain, unwarranted
aud variant Interpretation OF his treaty
rights" The accompanying papers are
made up Of extracts from diplomatic cor
respoEdence of 1897, Secretary Bayard's
letter to Minister Phelps of July II, 1887,
and protocols OF conferences OF negOtlatOrs.
There is also the
TEXT OF LETTER
from Secretary Bayard to Sir Charles Tup-
per, under date Of May 31st, 1887, in which
Bayard briefly reviews the points at issue,
the decentralization necessary in
dealing with Canada through Great Britain,
and proposed that in the Joint convention
which is to be arranged, the Canadian col
ones be represented. He speaks at length
of the interests involved and of the neces
sity for prompt action to avoid disagree
able friction bet. cen the two countries, at
the same time expressing the most earnest
desire for an amicable adjustment Of all
differences. Sir Charles Tupper's letter
in reply thanks Secretary Bayard for
the suggestion made and says they have
been referred tothe proper authority, coin
cides completely with the views OF Mr..
Bayard in the earnest hope for an early
tlement OF the vexed question. letter
from Bayard to Minister Phelps refers to a
telegram from Lord Salisbury suggesting
the appointment of commission. In this
Mr.. Bayard proposes a convention similar
in some respects to the new treaty which
was not acceptable in other points to the
British Government. The remaining CORE
spondence brings the subject to an agree
ment for atcOnference.