The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-08-31
A srEClAL MESSAGE.
The President on the Fisheries
Complications
He Reviews the Situation In Special Mes
sage and Asks for More Specific Powers
In ProtectiuR the Rights Of Amer
lean Elshermen.


lean Flshermen.
WASHINGTON, Aug. A.-The President
sent the following message to Congress
yesterday afternoon:
TO the Congress: The rejection by the Senate
OF the treaty lately negotiated for the settle
ment and adjustment OF the difnculties existing
between the United States and Great Britain
concerning the rights and privileges Of Ameri
con fishermen In the ports and wa ers of British
North America. seems to justify . survey Of the
condition 70 which the pending question is
thus RENTED. The treaty upon this subject,
concluded in 1918, through disagreements as
70 the meaning Of its terms. has been fruit
full source OF irritation and trouble Our
citizens engaged in fishing INT rprises in waters
adjacent to Canada have been subjected to
numerous vexatious interferences and an
noyances; their vessels have been
seized upon pretexts which appeared
70 be entirely inadmissable, and they
have been otherwise treated by the Canadian
authorities and officials in . manner inexcusa-
bly, harsh and oppressive. This conduct has
been justified by Great Britain and Canada by
the claim that the treaty of 1878 permitted It
and upon the ground that 1t was necessar. to
the proper protection Of Canadian interests.
We deny that treaty agreements justify these
acts. and we further maintain that aside from
any treaty restraints Of disputed Interpretation.
the relative positions of the United States and
Canada as neighbors, the growth Of our joint
commerce, the development and prosperity Of
both countries. which amicable relations surely
guarantee, and above all. the liberality always
extended by the United States to the people of
Canada, furnished motives for kindness and
consideration higher and better than treaty
covenants.
perating in the condition. and by no means in
disposed to support the just complaints OF our
injured citizens, / still deemed 1t my duty for
the preservation Of important American inter-
ests which were directly involved and in view
of all the details Of the situation. to attempt BY
negotiation to remedy existing wrongs and to
finally terminate by fair and just treaty, these
ever recurring causes Of difficulty. I fully be-
heved that the treaty just rejected by the
Senate was well suited to the exiRency and
that its provisions we're adequate for our
security in the future from vexatious in
cidents and for the promotion of friendly
neighborhoOd and intimacy, without
sacrificing IN the least our National pride or
dignity. am quite conscious that neither my
opinion of the value of the rejected treaty nor
the motives which prompted its negotiation are
Of importance in the light Of the judgment Of
The Senate thereupon, but it is of importance
to notice that this treaty has been rejected
without any apparent disposition on the part of
the Senate to alter or amend its provisions
and with the evident intention not wanting ex-
preston that no negotiation should at present
be concluded touching the matter ut issue.
The co operation necessary for the adjust
ment Of the long standing National differences
with which We have to deal by methods Of con-
ference and agreement having thus been de-
clined. am by no means disposed to abandon
the interests and rights Of our people in the
premises or to neglect their grievances. and
therefore turn to the contemplation Of Q plan
OF retaliation as mode which still remains of
treating the situation. am not unmindful Of
the gravity Of the responsibility assumed in
adopting this line Of conduct nor do fail in
the least to appreciate its serious conse
Quences. 1t will be impossible to injure
our Canadian neighbors by retaliatory meas
ures without inflicting some damage upon
our own citizens. This results from our
proximity, our community Of interests and
the inevitable comningling Of the business en-
terprises which have been developed by our
mutual activity. Plainly stated, the policy OF
National retaliation manifestly embraces the
infliction of the greatest harm upon the sea to
those who have injured u, with the least posi-
bic damage to ourselves.
There is also an evident propriety as well as
an invitation to neral support. found in visiting
upon the offending party the same measure or
far as possible within the same lines. And
above all things the plan Of retaliation, IL en-
tered upon. should be thorough and vigorous
These considerations lead me at the same
time to invoke the aid and counsel Of the Con-
gress and its support in such a further grant OF
power as seems to me necessary and desirable
to render effective the policy have indicated.
The Congress has. already passed Law, which
received executive assent on March s. 1887.
providing that in case American fishing YES
sells, being or visiting in the waters or at any
Of the ports Of the British dominions Of North
America should be or lately had been deprived
OF the rights to which they were entitled BY
treaty or Law. or IL they were denied certain
other privileges therein specified, or If vexed
or harassed in the enjoyment OF the same.
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 or place Of
the United States Of any product Of said Do
minions or other goods coming from said Do
minions to the United States. While shall
not hesitate upon proper occasions to enforce
this act il would seem to be unnecessary to
suggest that il such enforcement is limited in
such q manner as shall result in the least pos
sible injury to our own people, the effect would
probably be entirely inadequate to the accom-
plishment OF the purpose desired. I deem 1t
my 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 the general allegations already
made, which appear to be in such marked con-
trast to the liberal and friendly disposition Of
our country as in my opinion to call for such
legislation as will, upon the princil les already
stated, properly supplement the power to in
angurate retaliation already vested in the ex-
ecutive.
Actuated by the generous and neighhorly
spirit which has characterized our legisla-
tion our tariff laws have since 1866 been so
far waived in favor Of Canada as to allow
free OF duty the transit across the territory Of
the United States Of property arriving at our
ports and destined to Canada or exported
from Canada to other countries When the
Treaty Of Washington was negotiated in ISL
between the United States and Great Britain.
having for its object vexY largely the
modification OF hat treaty Of 1878 the
privileges above referred 70 we're made
reciprocal and given in return by Canada to the
United States. in the following language, con-
tanned in the tweutyninth article OF SAID treaty:
1T Is agreed that for the term Of years men
TONED in article IS Of this treaty. goods wares
or merchandise arriving 1T the ports of New
York, Boston and Portland and any other ports
in the United States which may have been, or
which may be. from time to time, especially
designated by the President OF the United
Saaies and destined for her Britannia Maiesty's
possessions in North America, may be
entered at the proper custom house and con-
veyed in transit, without the payment Of
duties, through the territory of the United
States. under such rules, regulations and con.
ditions for the protection Of the revenue as
the Government OF the United States may
nom time to time prescribe. and under like
rules, regulations md conditions, goods,
wares or merchandise may be conveyed
in transit without the payment of duties