Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-22

agreed upon and the conference was ar.
ranged to be held here. BY virtue Of the
power in me vested BY the constitution, I
duly authorize Thos. +. Bayard, Secretary
of State of the United States, VIM. L. Put
nam, citizen of the State Of Maine, James
h. Angel, citizen of the State Of Michi-
gan, for and in the name of
the United States, to meet and
confer with the plenipotentarics represent
ing the government Her Britannia Majesty
for the purpose of considering and adjusting
in friendship all or any question relating to
the rights of fishery in the seas Of British
North America and Newfoundland in the dis
pute between the governments Of the United
States and that of her Britannia Majesty,
and 10 jointly and severally conclude and
sign any treaty or treaties touching the
premises; and l herewith transmit for your
information full copies of the power so given
by me. In execution Of these powers %
conveyed, the said Thomas +. Bayard. VIM.
l.. Putnam and James b. Angel. in the
month of November last, met in this city the
plenipotentiaries Of her.Britannie Majesty and
proceeded TO the negotiation of a treaty ~
above authorized. After many conference
and protractcd efforts an agreement WAS at
length arrived at, which is embodied in the
treaty now before you. The treaty meets
my approval because believe it supplies q
satisfactory, practical and final adjustment
on n basis honorable and just to both parties,
of difficult and yexed questions 10 which Il
relates. A review of the history of this
question will show that all former attempts
10 arrive at common Interpretation have
been satisfactory to both parties. The first
article in the treaty of Oct. 20, 1878, was
unsuccessful and with the lapse Of time the
difficulty and obscurity only increased. Ne
gotiations in 1854 and again in 1871 ended
both cases in temporary reciprocal arrange.
ments of the tariffs of Canada. Newfound-
land and n, s., and the payment of money
award by the United States, under which the
real questions in difference remained unset
tied in allowance, ready to present themselves
anew as soon as the conventional arrange
ments were abrogated. The situation there
fore, remained unimproved by the results Of
the treaty of 1871, and grave condition Of
affairs were presenting almost identically the
same features and causes of complaint by
the United States against the Canadian ac-
ton and the British default in its correction
which confronted us In May, 1856, was
continued until the present time.
The greater part Of the correspondence taken
place between the two governments hereto
fore, has been communicated to Congress
and as early day as possible, shall trans
init the remaining portion TO this date accom-
panying IL with the joint protocals of the con-
fercnccs which resulted in the conclusion Of
the treaty now submitted to you. You will
thus he fully possessed of the record and
history of the ease since the termination,
June 80, 1888, of the fishery articles of the
treaty of Washington, 1871, whereby We
were relegated to the provisions of the treaty
of Oct 80, 1878. As the documents and
papers referred to will supply full informA-
ton of the positions taken under my admin
istration, by the representatives of the
United States, as well MS by the representa-
uves of the government of Great Britain;
it is not considered necessary or cxpedient to
repeat them in this message, but | believe
the treaty will be found to contain Just and
honorable, and therefore satisfactory solu-
ton of the difficulties which cloudcd our re-
lations with our neighbors on the northern
border. Especially satisfactory do | believe
the proposed agreement will be found by
those Of our citizens engaged in open sea
fishing adjacent to the Canadian coast ane re-
sorting to these ports and harbors under the
treaty provisions and under the international
law. The proposed delimitations of the lines
exclusive for fsherieries will give certainty
and security as to the area of their legiti-
mate field The headland theory Of imagn-
AIRY lines is abandoned by Great Britain and
by n specification in the treaty certain named
bays especially provided for, give satisfac-
ton to the inhabitants of the shore, without
subtracting materially from the view of con
vcnience to the fishery rights of the Ameri-
can. The uninterrupted navigation of the
straits of Cause, expressly for the first time
affirmed and for the purposes of which our
fishermen, under the treaty of 1918, were
allowed to enter the bays and harbors Of
Canada and New Foundland within belt Of
three miles, are placed under
fair and liberal construction
and their enjoyment secured without such
conditions and restrictions as embarrassed
and obstructcd them so seriously. The en-
barrassment of penalties for unlawfully fish
ing or preparing to fish within the shore and
inclusive waters of Canada and Newfound-
land is to be accomplished under safeguards
against oppressive aud arbitrary action, thus
protecting the dependent fishermen from
punishment in advance of trial, delays, in
convenience, and unnecessary expense.
The history of the events of the past two
years shows that no feature of the Canadian
administration has been m' re- harrasing aud
injurious than compulsion on our fishing
vessels to make formal entry and clearance
on every occasion of temporarily seeking
shelter in Canadian ports and harbors. Such
Inconvenience has been provided against in
| the proposed treaty and this most frequent,
Just cause of complaint has been removed.
The licenses are to be granted, without
charge on application, to enable our fishermen
to enjoy these privileges, and are reasonable
and proper checks in the hands Of the local
authorities to identify the recipients and
prevent abuse, and can form no impeachment
to those who intend to use them fairly. The
hospitality secured for our vessels In al
cases of actual distress, with the liberty II
unload, to sell and to tranship their cargoes
is full and liberal. These provisions viii
secure the substantial enjoyment of ths
treaty rights for our fishermen under thu
treaty OF 1878, for which a contention hsi
been steadily made in the correspondence oi
the department of State, and by our minister
at London and by the American negotiators
who present this treaty. The right Of oul
fishermen, under the treaty Of 1878, didn'
extend TO the procurement Of distinctive fish
cry supplies in Canadian ports or harbors
One item is supposed to be essential, to wit
bait, was plainly desired by the explicit ant
definite words Of the treaty of 1918, ant
emphasized by the course of the negotiation
and by the express decisions which precede,
the conclusion of that treaty. The treat
now submitted contains no provisions AFFECT
ing the tariff duties. independently Of tn
position assumed upon the part Of the Uni
ted States, that no alteration in our tariff o
other domestic legislation could be made, q
the price or consideration, for securing tn
rights OF our citizens, secured by this treaty
1t was considered more expedient to allov
any change in the revenue laws Of the Uni
! ted States to be made by the ordinary exer
else of legislative will and in the promotio
Of public interests. Therefore, in addition
to the free list Of fish, fish oil, whale ant
seal oil, etc, recited in the last article OF thu
; treaty, is wholly left to the action Of Con
gress. In connection Herewith, the Cana
dian ewfoundlsnd fight to regulate th
sales Of bait and other fshinl
. supplies, within their own Jurisdiction, j
, recognized, and the right Of on
fishermen to freely purchase these things, !
made contingent by this treaty upon the &C
ton of Congress in the modification Of on
tariff laws. Our social and commercial In
tercourse with those populations who hav'