The Red Cloud chief., 1888-08-31
A SPECIAL MESSAGE.
The President on the Fisheries
Complications.
He Reviews the Situation In . Special Mea-
sage and Asks for More Specific Powers
I'm PROTECTING the Rights of Amer
lean Fishermen.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2A-The Presiden,
sent the following message to Congress.
yesterday afternoon:
! 10 the Congress-: The rejection BY the Senate
OF the treaty lately negotiated fer the settle
ment and adjustment Of the difficulties existins
betwoen the United States and Great Britain
ccncsrsins the rights and privileges Of Ameri
can fishermen IN the ports and va ers Of British
North America. seems 10 justify q survey OF the
cOnditiO. to which the pending question i.
thus RENTED. The treaty upon this subject
concluded in 1918, through disagreement q.
to the meaning OF its terms. has been y fruit
full source Of irritation and trouble. OuI
citizens enyagedin fishing ent rprises in waters
adjacent to Canada have been subjected tC
numerous vexaticus interferenccs and an
noyances; their vessels have beer
seized upon pretex:s which appeared
to be entirely in.dmissable, and thcV
have been otherwise treated by the Canadian
authorities and officials Ill . manner inexcusa
bly, harsh and oppressive. This conduct ha.
teen justified by Great Britain and Canada by
the claim that the treaty OF 1918 permitted il
and upon the ground that II was necessar' Il
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
Sououb d. ucISItoIs, INC kIOWth VI OuI JUN
commerce, the development and prosperity OF
both countries, which amicable relations surely
guarantee. and. above all. the liberaliiy always
extended by the United States to the people Of
Canada, furnished motives for kindness and
consideration higher and better than treaty
covenants.
While keenly sensitive to all that was exas
perating in the condition. and by no means in
disposed d to import the just complaints OF our
d.. ,N,.ov Il rNIl lany,n - o,- IN- -
the preservation OF important American inter
ests which were directly involved and in view
of all tie details OF the situation. to attempt b.
negotiation to remedy existing wrongs and 20
finally terminate by a fair and just treaty. these
ever recurring causes OF difficulty. I fully be
lieved that the treaty just rejected by the
Senate was well suited to the ~cxigeEcy and
that its provisions were adequate for our
security in the future from vexat;Ous in
cidentS and for the promotion Of friendly
neighbOrhoOd and intimacy, without
sacrificing IN the least our National pride or
dignity. l I'm 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 il 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
6Iu Will IL CNluCut iutCutIOii. Hot NdlItitiS tx
preston. that no negotiation should at present
be concluded touching the matter at issue.
Thu cooperation 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-
clincd. ! am by no means disposed to abandon
tie interests and rights Of our people in the
premises or 10 neglect their grievances. and I
therefore turn TO the contemplation Of q plan
1T vnNolS,N{An &C a upDSA xrh,c, .t,l, ->~r~,. ~
treating the situation l 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-
QueIces. 1t will be impossible to tn1uro
our Canadian %neighbors by retaiiatory meas
urcS without i~ntiicting some damage upon
our own citizens. This results from our
proximity, our community Of interests and
the inevitable c~omminglins Of the business en-
terpriseS which have been developed By our
mutual activity. Plainly stated, the policy OF
rational retaliation manifestly embraces the
infection 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 propricty as well as
an invitation to moral support. found in visiting
upon The offending party the same measure or
kind OF treatment of which We complain and as
far as possible within the same lines. And
above all things the plan Of retaliation. if en-
tered upon. should be thorough and vigorous.
These considerations lead NE 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 l have indicated.
The Congress has already passed a law, which
received executive assent on March 3, 1885,,
providing that in case American fishing YES
sells, being or visiting in the waters or ut any
Of the ports Of the British dominions Of North
America, should be or lately had been deprived
OF the rights to which they We're entitled by
treaty or law, or il they were denied certain
other privileges therein specified. or If vexed
or harasscd in the e~nioynent OF the same,
the President might deny 10 vessels and their
masters and crews OF the British dominions
OF North America any entrance into the
waters, ports er 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
to the United States. While I 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 resul; in the least pos
sible injury 10 our own people, the effect would
probably be entirely inadequate to the accom-
plishment OF the purpose desired. / deem IT
my duty, therefore. TO call the attention Of
Congress to certain particulars in the action OF
the authorities Of the Dominion o: Canada. in
to the general allegations already
which appear TO be in such marked con-
trast to the liberal aud friendly disposition OF
our country as in my opinion to call for such
legislation as will, upon the PRINCIPLES already
stated, properly supplement- the power 10 in
auguratc retaliation already vested ia the eX-
Actuated by the generous and neighborly |
spirit which has characterized our legisla-
ton. 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 II our
ports and destined to Canada or exported
from Canada to other countries. When the |
eaty Of Washington was negotiated in 1871
the United States and Great Britain
having for its object very largely the
modification Of that treaty Of ISIS, the
above referred to were made
and given in return by Canada to the
States, in the following language, con-
in the twenty-Einth article OF said treaty: |
1T is agreed that for the term of years men, |
toned in article 81 OF this treaty. goods. wares |
Or merchandise arriving at the ports Of New
York, Boston and Portland. and any other ports
the United States which may have been. or
which may be, from time to time. especially
designated by the President OF the United 4
States, and destined for her Britannia MAjesty's
possessions in North America. may be
entered at the proper custom house and con-
in transit, withou, the payment OF
iuties, through the territory OF tie United