Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-22
FISHERIES TREATY.
YBg INJUNCTION OF SECRECY REMOVED
YESTERDAY.


| Which DE FplIy Oos fViu he fa"S
Connected With the Drawing up and
Signing Of the Document
WASHINGTON, February 2l.-The Sen
ate to-day made public the fisheries treaty
with the Presidents letter of transDittal.
The Presidents letter, with the historical
part omitted, is as follows:
To the Senate Of Me United States:
In my snnual message transmitted to the
Congress in December, 1886, it was stated
that negotiations were then pending toI
the settlement of the questions growing
ont Of the rights claimed by American fish
ermen in British North American waters.
As a result of such negotiations treaty
has been agreed upon between Her Britain
ME Majesty and the United States, con,
cluded and signed in this capital, under
my direction and authority, on the 18th OF
February instant, and which now have
the honor to submit to the Senate, with the
recommendation that it shall receive the
consent of that body as provided in the
Constitution in order that the ratification
thereof may be duly exchanged and the
treaty
CARRIED INTO EFFECT.
Shortly after Congress had adjourned in
March last, and in continuation of my et-
forts to arrive at such agreement be-
tween the Governments of Great Britain
and the United States as would secure to
the citizens of the respective countries the
unmolested enjoyment of their just rights
under existing treaties and international
comfy in the territorial waters OF
Canada and of New Foundland,
II availed myself of opportune
occurrences indicative of desire to make
without delay an amicable and final settle.
ment of long standing controversy, pro-
ductive of much irritation and misundeI-
standing between the two nations, to send
through our Minister in London proposals
that conference should take place on the
snhect at this capital. The experience OF
the past two years lai demonstrated
THE Dill ATORY AND UNsATISFACTORY
conseq uences Of our indirect transaction OF
business through the foreign office in Lon
don. in which the views and wishes of the
Government OF the Dominion of Canada
were practically predominant, but were
only to find expression at second hand.
To obviate this Inconvenience and oh
struction to prompt and well defined set
| tlement it was considered advisable that
negotiatiations should be conducted in this
city and that the interests of Canada and
Newfoundland should be directlyrepresent
ed therein.
The treaty meets my approval, because
| believe that it supplies a satisfactory
practical and final adjustment upon basis
honorable and Just to both parties, of the
difficult and vexed question to which il
relates.
You will be fully possessed Of the
record and history of the case sinca the
termination on June 80, 1885, of the fish
cry articles of the treaty Of Washington,
1871, whereby We were relegated to tie
provisions of the treaty of October 20,
1918. Those documents and papers refer
red to, will supply full information of the
positions taken under my administration
by the representatives of the United States
az we'll as those occupied by the represen-
taliveS OF the government of Great Britain.
It is not considered necessary or expedient
to repeat them 10 this message. But
believe the treaty will be found TO contain
Just, honorable, and therefore
A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION
of the difficulties which have clouded our
relations with our neighbors on our north
ern border.
Especially satisfactory do believe the
proposed arrangement will be found by
those of our citizens who are engaged in the
open sea fisheries adjacent to the Canadian
coast, and resorting to those ports and
harbors under treaty provisions and rules
of international law. The arti-
cles permitting our fishermen to obtain
provisions and the ordinary supplies of
trading vessels on their homeward voy-
ages, and under which they are
accorded the further and even
more important privileges on all
occasions of purchasing such casual or
needful provisions and supplies as are or
dinarily granted to trading uessels are of
great importance and value. The licenses
which are to be granted without charge
and on application, in order to enable our
fishermen to enjoy these privileges, are
reasonable, and proper checks in the hands
of the local authorities TO identity the re-
ceipts and prevent abuse and can form no
impediment to those who intend to use
them fairly.
The treaty new submitted contains NJ
provision affecting
TARIFF DUTIES,
aud, independently Of the position assumed
upon the part of the United States that ne
alteration in ouc tariff or other domestic
legislation could be made as the price or
consideration Of obtaining rights Of our
citizens secured by treaty, ii was cOnsid-
cred more expedient to allow any change
in the revenue laws of the United States
to be made by the ordinary exercise of
legislative will and the promotion of the
public interests.
The treaty now Submitted to you has
been framed in q spirit of liberal equity
and reciprocal benefits, in the conviction
that mutual advantage and con-
venience are the only permanent
foundation of peace aud friendship
between States and that with the adoption
Of the agreement now placed before the
Senate beneficial and satisfactory inter
course between the two countries will be
established so as to secure perpetual
PEACE AND HARMONY.
In connection with the treaty herewith
submitted, | deem it also nay duty to
transmit to thu Senate written offer, or
agreement, in the nature ofa moduS ripS.di,
rendered after the conclusion Of the treaty
on the part Of the British plenipotentiaries
to secure kindly and pesceful relations
during the period that may be
required for the consideration of the treaty
by the respective governments, and for en-
actment Of the necessary legislation to
carry its provisions into effect if approved.
This paper, freely and on their own mo-
tion signed by the British confsrees, not
not only extends advantages to our fisher