The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-02-23
NEW TREATY.
President Cleveland Gives His
Views on the Fisheries
Compact.
Its Advantages to American Fish
ermen, and Effect on Rela-
tions With England.

The presidents letter, with the historica.
points omitted, is as follows, and practi-
oally covers the treaty:
In my annual message, transmitted to
congress in December, 1886, it was stated
that negotiations were then pending for
settlement of the questions growing out
of the rights claimed by American fisher
men in British North American waters.
As a result of such negotiations,
treaty has been agreed upon between her
Britannia majesty and the United States,
concluded and signed in this capital, un-
der my direction and authority, on Feb
ruary Is, and which I now have the honor
to submit to the senate, with the recon-
mendation that it shall receive the con-
sent of that body as provided in
the constitution, in order that rati-
fcation thereof may be duly ex-
changed and the treaty carried into
effect. Shortly after congress had
adjourned in March last, and in continue
tion of my efforts to arrive at such an
agreement between the governments of
Great Britain and the United States as
would secure to the citizens of their re-
spectlve countries the unmolested enjoy
ment of their just rights under existing
treaties and international comfy in the
territorial waters of Canada and New
foundland, availed myself of the oppor-
tune occurrences indicative of desire to
make, without delay, an amioable and final
settlement of the long standing
controversy, productive of much irritation
and misunderstanding between the two
nations, to send through our minister in
London proposals that a conference
l,l kolv khn eaIs 81 sc
capital.
The experience of the past ten years
had demonstrated the dilatory and un-
satisfactory consequences of our indirect
transaction of business through the
foreign Office in London, in which
the views and wishes of the government
of the Dominion of Canada were practi-
cally predominant.
To obviate this inconvenience and OBJ
struction to prompt and well defined
settlement, it was considered advisable
that negotiations should be conducted in
this city and that the interests of Canada
and New Foundland should be directly
, represented therein.
The treaty meets my approval, because
believe that 1t supplies sat
isfactory, practical and final adjustment
upon basis honorable and just to both
parties of the difficult and vexed ques'
ton to which it relates. The greater part
of the correspondence which has taken
a place between the two governments, has
heretofore been communicated to con-
gress, and at as early day as possible
3 l shall transmit the remaining portion to
this date, accompanying it with joint
protocols of conferences which resulted
, in the conclusion of the treaty now sab
I mitted to you.
You will thus be fully possessed of the
, records and history of the case since the
. termination June 10, 1881 of the fishery
article of the treaty of Washington oi
1871, whereby we we're relegated by the
provision of the treaty of October 20
1918. believe the treaty will be founo
to contain just, honorable and, there
: fore, satisfactory solution of the
y difficulties which have clouded oul
q relations with our neighbors or
our northern border, especially
Q satisfactory do believe the proposed ar
. rrngements will be founnd by those of oul
t citizens who are engaged in open set
= fisheries adjaoeptIto the Canadian coast
t and sailing to those ports and harbor:
Q under treaty provisions and the rules Of
t international law.
4 The proposed delimitation of the lines
3 of exclusive fisheries from common
= fisheries will give certainty and security
as to the area of their Legitimate
field. The theory of imaginary lines il
abandoned by Great Britain, and thu
specification in the treaty of certain
It named bays, and especially provided for
f gives satisfaction to the inhabitants o
d the shores without substracting MATERIAL.
= from the value or the convenience of tn
}, fishery rights of Americans.
v The uninterrupted navigation of tn
3 straits of Canso is expressly AM
Q for the first time affirmed, an,
J. the four purposes for whicl
our fishermen, under the treaty of 1915
were allowed to enter the bays and har
bors of Canada and New Foundlan6
within belt of three marine miles, ar
a placed under fair and liberal construc
Q tion, and their engagement secured with
a out such conditions and restrictions, as i
8 the past have embarrassed and obstructe
d them so seriously. The enforcement O
= the penalties for unlawfully fshin
t. or pretending to fish within
o inshore, and exclusive waters of Canad
anu NoWIOunulanu is 10 De accomplished
under the safeguards against oppressiv
or arbitrary action, thus protecting tn
defendant fisherman from punishment i
advance of trial, delays and Inconvenience
ss and unnecessary expense. The histor
y of events of the last two years shows the
is no feature of the Canadian administratio
y was more harassing and injurious thai
y the compulsion upon our fishing vessel
le to make formal entry and clearance o
ID every occasion of temporarily seekin
W shelter in Canadian ports and harbor
i'd Such inconvenience is provided egains
I'd in the proposed treaty, and this most FIRE
quent and just cause of complaint is re
moved
The articles permitting our fisherme
lie to obtain provisions and ordinal
ed supplies of trading vessels @
lg their homeward voyages, and und
e. which they are accorded further and eve
es more important privileges on all o,
On casions of purchasing such casual
er needful provisions and supplies, are sue
I'll as are ordinarily granted to trading We
ed sells, and are of great importance al
ht value. The licenses, which are to
granted without charge and on applic