Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-08-31
NOW FOR RETALIATION.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT ON
THE FISHERIES QUESTION.

10 the Congress: The rejection b.
the Senate OF the treaty negotiated 70
the settlement and adjustment of tn
, differences existing between the Uni
ted States and Great Britain concern
ing the rights and privileges of Amer
lean fishermen in ports and waters o
British North America seems to justif.
u survey OF the condition to which til,
pending question is thus remitted
The treaty upon this subject concluded
in 1918, through disagreement as tt
meaning OF its terms, has been fruit
full source of irritation and trouble
Our citizens engaged in fishing in Wa
ters adjacent to Canada have been sub
| jected to numerous vexations, interfei
ences and annoyances; their vessel.
have been seized upon pretexts which
appeared to be entirely inadmissible
and they have been otherwise treated
by the Canadian authorities and Off
GERS in a manner inexcusably harsh
and oppressive. This conduct has been
justified by Great Britain and Canada
| by the claim that the treaty of 1918
permitted 1t, and upon the ground
that it was necessary to proper protec-
ton of Canadian interests. We deny
that treaty agreements justify these
acts, and further maintain that, aside
from any restraints of a disputed in
| depreciation, the relative positions of
the United States and Canada, as near
| neighbors. the growth of our joint COM
merce, and the development and pros
perity OF both countries, which AMIGA
BILE relations surely. guarantee, and
above all the liberality always extended
by the United States to the people of
Canada furnished more pleas for kind
ness and consideration, and better than
treaty covenants.
While keenly sensitive to all that
was exasperating in their condition,
and by no means indisposed to support
the just complaints of our injured cit
lzens, ! still deemed it my duty to at
tempt, by negotiation, to remedy the
existing wrongs, and finally to elimi-
nate, by fair and just treaty, those
ever-recurring causes of difficulty. l
fully believe that the treaty just re-
jected by the Senate was well suited to
the exigency, and that its provisions
were adequate for our security in future
from vexatious Incidents, and for the
promotion of friendly and neighborly
and intimacy, without sacrificing in
the least our national pride or dignity.
1t is of importance to note that this
has been effected without any appar-
ent disposition on the part Of the Senate
to amend its provisions, and with the
evident intention that no negotiation n
should at present be concluded touch
ing the matter at issue.
NOW FOR RETALIATION.
am by 10 means disposed to aban-
don the interests and rights of our peo-
pie in the premises, or neglect their
grievance, and therefore turn to con-
temptation of the plan of retaliation as
the mode which still remains of treat
ing the situation. / am not unmind-
full of the gravity of the responsibility
assumed in adopting this line of con-
duct, nor do l fail to appreciate its
seriousness. 1t will be impossible to
injure our Canadian neighbors by re-
taliatory measures without inflicting
some damage upon our own citizens.
The policy of retaliation embraces the
infliction Of the greatest harm upon
those who have injured ue, with the
least possible damage to ourselves, and
above all things, plan Of retaliation,
if entered upon, should. be thorough
and vigorous. These considerations
lead me to invoke the aid and counsel
of Congress, and its support, in such
further grant of power as seems neces-
sary and desirable to render effective
the policy have indicated. Congress
has already passed law providing
that in case American fishing vessels
being in or visiting in the waters or at
any of the ports of the British do
minions OF North America should he
or have been lately deprived of rights
to which they were entitled by law, or
if they we've denied other privileges
therein specified, the President might
deny to vessels and their masters and
crews. of the British dominions of
North America any entrance into the
waters, ports or harbors OF the United
States, and also deny entry into any
port OF place OF the United States of
any product OF said dominions, or 9TH
er goods coming from there to the
United States.
While l shall not hesitate, upon
proper occasions, to enforce this act,
| it would seem necessary to suggest
that if its enforcement is limited in
such a manner as shall result in the
least possible injury to our own peo-
pie, it would probably be entirely in
adequate to the accomplishment of the
purpose. deem it duty, therefore,
to call the attention of Congress to
certain particulars in the action of the
authorities of the Dominion of Canada,
| in addition to general legislation al
ready made, which appear to be in
such marked contrast to the friendly
position of our country as, In my
opinion, call for such legislation as
will, upon the principles already
stated, properly supplement the power
to inaugurated retaliation already
rested in the executive. Actuated by
tho generous spirit which has charac
lterixed our legislation, our tariff laws