New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-21
THE TREATY IN THE SENATE.
SENATORS HEAR 1T READ IN SECRET.
PROVISIONS OF THE DOCUMENT - HARD TERMS
FOR AMERICAN FIsHgRMEN-wHAr THE Willy
BRITISH COMMISSIONERS GAISED-A FAIL
URE TO DISCOVER THE sECRErARYs
GREAT DIPLOMATIC ACHIEVEMENT
fBr TELEGRAPH To THE tribune

GREAT DIPLOMATIC ACHIEVEMENT
NEW OFFICES CREATED.
IBr TELEGRAPH TRBUNE.I
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20-Thc Fisheries Treaty
"cht TO The Senate to-day, was read in secret ses-
sioh' and after short aid altogether informsl
discussion, referred to the Comn,iitce Foreign
lIelations and ordered to be printed: Confidence
Tor the use OF the Senate It's publication, as
might nave been expected, was objected to by
ME- Edmunds; and single objection carries
moton to make secret document public over
1or one day, it is not likely that the treaty will
| oneiaily be made public until tomorrow. Pre-
ciseiy why Alr Edn UIds objected does not appear.
thou IN there $ ,agIe notior prevailing that the
1lshermcn Of the Green Mountain State are not
greatly concerned about any question involving
Dalt' except possibly, such as is ordinarily con-
tanned in demijohns and that, therefore, Mr.. Ed
munds did not hesitate to plead in favor Of further
secrecy In matter which affects the welfare Of
thousands of fishermen and millions of interested
capital, not to mention the honor and dignity of
nation as long as Senatorial proprcty,' what
ever lhat may be, was being preserved, accord
ing to his circumscrbed notions.
lhe provisions of the treaty itself have already
been outlined in these dispatches with substan-
tial accuracy. Precisely what the United States
gains by the agreement does not appear 1t GER
tainly is not the great diplomatic victory which
Secretary Bayard claimed it was The greater
portion of the document is devoted to an inter
pretation Of the thrcc-mile limit clause and
the hcadland theory. In substance it adopts
the theories adhered to by all other civilized
nations. Canada retains full jurisdiction within
the three-mile limit, but comedies the free entry
of our vessels into bays and harbors. the mouth
of which is more than ten miles wide. Within
these harbors, however the three-mile limit re-
striction applies with equal force
as along the ordinary coast line.
Under the treaty the only privilege worth hav,
ing, that of landing fish and sending il under bond
into the United States, is totally denied us. ihs
would have been a substantial advantage, probab-
ly. and would have been regarded as such by our
fishermen but il is not included in the agreement
which Mr.. Bayard is inclined to look upon as d
great diplomatic victory
INTRRN,TIoNAL COMMITTEE OF DRAuGETsMEN
The whole subject Of drawing an accurate
marine map indicating the precise limits to which
Canadian Jurisdiction extends absolutely is dele
gated to an international commission to consist OF
two commissioners selected by the United States
and Canada respectively. with power to submit
dispnted questions to an arbitration to be chosen
by both parties. -
In order to understand the utter insignihcance
.of this feature Of the treaty It IS but necessary
to remember that the thrce-mile limit or the IN
vaSOn OF Canadian jurisdiction by American nsh-
ermen was never made subject OF dispute by
@ thcr party. What fishermen were harassed
for in the course Of the last two years was noo
their attempt TO pOach on Canadian hshhg
grounds hut their insisance upon participation
In the same commercial rights that are EXTENDED
by Canada to every other nat"n except 70 tne
United States rights which are without moIes,a a-
tion enoyed Ivy Canada itself In the ports or this
country. While Of course clear demarKaton oi
the limit beyond which our fishermen cannot
fish Is desirable and cannot possibly do harm IN
treaty Of this kind, except it should be shown that
sir Bayard has given up the right Of our ishermen
70 enter rrti% arhoro end fish therein , wltnl1
1918. il would certainly be very difficult for HIM
to show what advantage he has gained in this
section Of the treaty.
INDUSTRIOUS PROPOSITION
These questions disposed Of, the treaty provides
for modus vivendi while the treaty is pending
in the Senate This shows more than anything
else the utter hcplcssncss Of Mr. Bayard as a ne
gotiator when opposed by such men as Mr.. Cham
berain and Sir l.. Sacllville West. Under the
| forms Of this mOdus vvcndi, which is to extend
| il necessary, for two years. American ilShernleh
| In order to secure the rights for which they nave
! contcndpd, will have TO take out license II tley
! wish TO enjoy those rights based upon the tonnage
| Of the vessel al the rate Of 81 80 ton year
| This is, to use the expression or New-Ehgand
| man thoroughly convcrsant with the whole ISh-
| cries question, mohStrous prop3sl!Ioh. ino
average tonnage of our fishing vessels Is say, 5Ou
tons. They, wonld have, Therefore to pay siSO
n year for the privileges. If the commercial rights
| granted as a matter Of course by every clvillzHd
nation of the present day to other nations can be
termed privilege of purchasing supplies ana httlng
| out. The levying OF this tax in the form or
| license is particularly offensive. because 10 I'm
plies a recognition Of the Canadian view, that this
| Is not commercial right hut privilege or taNor
/ extended to the United States.
THE SLIGHT CONCESSION OBTAINED.
The second point settled by the treaty comedies
the right Of American fishermen to enjoy full COM
mcrcial privileges except that Of buying bait
In other words they will hereafter, in case the
! treaty is ratified be able TO fit out vessels pur-
! chase provisions. and enter harbors when forced
! to do so in stress OF weather. rights now denied
! them though cniovcd by Canadian vessels in the
ports of the United States. The treaty does away
with certain Custom House fOrmalities which have
proved irksome to our fishermen and have en-
tailed unon them some loss Of time. For instance
! they will he permitted TO enter certain harhors
! where there no Custom Houses without being
obliged 10 report or proceed as Is now the case 10
the next Custom House, in many instances miles
away.
This may he an advantage but It Is sli;ht, in;
deed and docs not alter the fact tht Mr.. 1}ayard
| has been unable 10 obtain for tho fishermen OF
this country those full and unrestricted commercial
rights which are accorded without question TO
| Canadian fishermen in this country and which
| Canada itself extends without attempts at eXtor-
tlon to every nation except the United states
But worse is TO follow. The treaty IN rs 5 las,
paragraph contains provision that the United
! States upon granting the admission OF fish Tree OF
duty into It's territory shall obtain the privilege
for its fishermen 10 buy halt 10 Cenadinn waters.
| This is snapper- rs a Ncw-Ergland man nptly
| termed il tonight the full significance OF which
| will not escape those who have watched the Ad-
ministraton's frantic efforts of late to enlarge the
! free list.
LIT INTO TrCr AMERICAN M.RKrT
| This is the lever by which willy Sir Charles
hopes yet to obtain the much coveted market,
which Is now closed to Canada. This is the point
toward which the assault Of the British Comms-
sioners directed. and for which Mr.. Bayard mas
so willingly consented to rave the way III re-
ceved in the Senate to-day the particular at'eli-
tion Of Senator Frye though he expressed hlEsGi ,
| unable from n mere cursorv examination OF the
treaty to enter fully into discussion now me
substance, however, Of his criticism Is oenev'u ~
| have been this that the new treaty saNp vi.