Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1888-02-25
THE FISHERIES.
Text Of the Proposed New Treaty
with Great Britain.
The President Expresses Satisfaction with
Its PrOvisions-Concess TO Ameri-
can Fishermen-A Tempo
rary Agreement.

L
Its FrOvistons--COncessi TO Ameri.
can FisRermen-A Tempo.
rary Agreement.
i
SETTLING vExED QUESTION
WASHINGTON, Feb. % The Senate yes
terday made public the fisheries treaty with
the Presidents letter of ransmittal. The
Presidents letter, with the historical part
omitted, reads as follows:
TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES:
4 In my annual message. transmitted to Con-
gress in December, 1885, it was stated that
negotiations were then pending for the
/ settlement OF the questions growing out
/ of the rights claimed by American fisher
men in British North American waters AS q
result OF such negotiations a treaty has been
i agreed upon between her Brittanic Majesty
and the United States, concluded and
/ signed in this capital under my direction and
authority on the 18th OF February inst, and
i which now have the honor to submit to the
Senate. with the recommendation that it sha
receive the consent OF that body, as provided
in the constitution, in order that the ratifca-
ton thereof may be duly exchanged and the
! treaty carried into effect.
The treaty meets my approval because
believe it supplies satisfactory, practical and
hnal adjustment upon basis honorable and
Just to both parties of the difficult and vexed
question to which it relates. believe
| the treaty will be found to contain a just hon
orable, and therefore satisfactory solution
OF the difficulties which have clouded
our relations with our neighbors on our north.
i ern borders
1.-THE treaty now submitted contains no pro-
vision affecting tariff duties, and, independ-
emily OF the position assumed upon the part
OF the United States that no alteration
IN our tariff or other domestic legislation could
be made as the price or consideration of
obtaining the rights of cur citizens secured by
treaty, it was considered more expedient to
allow any change in the revenue laws OF the
United States to be made by the ordinary ex-
ercise of legislative will and in promotion of
the public interests. Therefore, the addition
to the free list of fish, fsh-oil, whale
and seal-oi, etc, recited in the last article
OF the treaty. is wholly left to
the action Of Congress; and in connection
Herewith the Canadian and Newfoundland
right to regulate sales OF bait and other fishing
supplies within their own jurisdiction is recog-
nized, and the right of our fishermen to freely
purchase these things is made contingent by
this treaty upon the action Of Congress in the
modification of our tariff laws.
Our social aud commercial intercourse with
those populations who have been placed upon
| our borders and made forever our neighbors is
/ made apparent by a list of United States
common carriers, marine and inland, con-
Meeting their lines with Canada which was
returned by the Secretary of tho Treas
ury to the Senate on the It'll day of
February, 1885, in answer to resolution of
that body, and this is instructive as to the
great volume of mutually profitable inter
changes which has come into existence during
the last half century. This intercourse is still
but partially developed, and if the amicable
enterprise and wholesome rivalry between the
Two populations is not obstructed the promise
OF the future is full Of the fruits of an un-
bounded prosperity on both sides of the border
1 The treaty now submitted to you has been
framed in spirit OF liberal equity and recpro-
| cal benefits in the conviction that mutual ad-
vantage and convenience are the only perma-
nent foundation OF peace and friendship be-
| tween states. and that with the adoption
| OF the agreement now placed before the Senate
| beneficial and satisfactory intercourse be-
| tween the two countries will be establi shed so
as to secure perpetual peace and harmony.
| I'm connection with the treaty herewith SUBJ
mitted deem it also my duty to transmit to
| the Senate written offer or agreement in the
nature OF modus vivendi rendered after the
conclusion OF the treaty on the part of the Brit
| lsh plenlpotentiaries to secure kindly and
peaceful relations during the period that may
/ be required for the consideration of the treaty
1 by the respective Governments and for the en-
actment of the necessary legislation to carry
] its provisions into effect if approved. This pa
per, freely and on their own motion, signed by
] the British conferees, not only extends ad-
vantages to our fishermen pending the ratif-
cation OF the treaty, but appears to have been
dict ated by friendly and amicable spirit.
"GROvER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, Feb. 20. 1888. -
THE TREATY
The text OF the treaty and protocols is as
follows:
WHEREAS, Differences have arisen concern
/ ing the Interpretation of article of the con.
venton of October 20, 1878, the United States
OF America and her Majesty tile Queen Of the
United Kingdom Of Great Britain and Ireland,
| being mutually DESTROYS of removing all causes
OF misunderstanding in relation thereto, and
| OF promoting friendly intercourse and good
neighborhood between the United States and
the possessions OF her Majesty in North Amer.
| lea, have resolved to conclude treaty to that
end. The plenipotentiaries have agreed upon
| the following articles:
/ Article l. The high contracting parties
agree to appoint a mixed commission to de.
limit, in the manner provided in this treaty,
the British waters, bays. creeks and harbors OF
the coasts Of Canada and of Newfoundland as to
which the United States, by article of the
convention OF October 20, 1918, between the
! United States and Great Britain, renowned
forever any liberty to take, dry or cure fish.
| "Article2. The commission shall consist of two
| commissioners to be named by Her Britannia
| Majesty and of two commissioners to be named
/ L
delay after the exchange of notifications of this
treaty. The commission shall meet and COM
plete the delimitation as soon as possible there.
/ after.
4. "Article3. The delimitation referred to in
article OF this treaty shall be marked upon
British admiralty charts by a series of lines reg
| ularly mum bered and duly described. The charts
so marked shall, on the termination of the work
OF the commission, be signed by the commits
sloners in quadruplicate, one copy whereof
shall be delivered to the Secretary OF State OF
the United States and three copies to her Mai.
esty's Government. The delimitation shall ba
made in the following manner, and shall be
i accepted by both the high contracting parties
as applicable for all purposes under article OF
the convention Of October 90 1918, between the
United States and Great Britain: The three ma.
/ rine miles mentioned in article of the conven.
ton OF October 20, 1885, shall be measured sea.
| ward from low water mark; but at every bay,
creek or harbor not otherwise specially pro.
i vided for in this treaty such three marine miles
shall be measured seawarda from a straight
4 line drawn across the bay, creek or harbor in
| the part nearest the entrance at the first point
! where the width does not exceed ten marine
1 miles"
4 Article4 prescribes the lines of the three
! mile limit at the various bays coming under the
i provisions OF the treaty. Other articles pro-
vide that any disagreement of the commission.
1 ers shall forthwith be referred to an umpire
4 selected by the Secretary of State OF the
l United States and her Britannia Majesty's
Minister at Washington, and his decision shall
be final; also that each of the high contracting
4 parties shall pay it's own commissioners and
i officers but other expenses, Jointly incurred,
including compensation to the umpire, shall be
paid by each in equal moieties.
I " Article .. Nothing in this treaty shall inter
rupt or affect the freq navigation of the Strait
OF Canso by fishing vessels OF the United