Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-01
1t Meets his ApprOyaI-He Believes it
Finally Adjusts the Yexed Question
Upon Basis at Once Honorable and
J ust to Both Parties Of the Diff Guilty.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


the presidents letter of transmittal.
The presidents letter, with the historical
part omitted, is as follows;
To the senate of the United States:
In my annual message transmitted to
congress in December 1886, it was stated
that negotiations were then pending for
a settlement of the questions growing out
of the rights claimed by American fish
AS a result of such negotiations a treaty
has been agreed upon between her Brit
tanic majesty and the United States, con-
cluded and signed in this capitol under
my direction and authority on the 18th
of February, 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 for in
the constitution, IL order that the ratii-
cation thereof may be duly exchanged
and the treaty carried into effect.
Shortly after congress had adjourned
in March last, and in continuation of my
efforts to arrive at SUCH an agreement be-
tween the governments of Great Britain
and the United States as would secure to
the citizens of the respective countries
the unrnolested enjoyment of their just
tional comfy in the territorial waters of
Canada and of newfoundland I availed
myself Of the opportune occurrences in
dicativo of e desire to make without
delay
AN AMICABLE AND FINAL SETTLEMENT
of a long standing controversy-pr
ductive of much irritation and misun-
Outstanding between the two natiops-to
send through our ministers in London
proposals that conference should take
place on the subject at this capital. The
experience of the past two years had
demonstrated the dilatory and unsatis-
factory consequences of our indirect trans
action of business through the foreign
Office in London in which the views and
wishes of the government of the Domin-
ion of Canada were practically predOmi-
nant, but were only to find expression at
second hand. To obviate this inconven-
fence and obstruction to prompt and well
defined settlement, it was considered ad-
visable that negotiations should be CON
Quoted in this city, and that the interests
OF Canada and Newfoundland should be
directly represented therein.
THE TREATY MEETS MY APPROVAL
because believe that it supplies a salts
factory, 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 place between the two governments
has heretofore been communicated to
congress, and at as early day as pos
sible I shall transmit the remaining por-
ton to this date, accompanying
it with the joint protocols of the con-
ferences which resulted in the conclusion
of the treaty now submitted to you.
You will thus be fully possessed of the
record and history of the case since the
termination on June 80, 1885, of the fish
cry articles of the treaty of Washington,
of III, whereby, we were regulated to the
provisions of the treaty of October 2Oth
1913. AS the documents and papers re-
ferred to will supply full information of
the positions taken under my administra-
ton by representatives of the United
States, as we'll as those occupied by rep
resentatives of the government of Great
Britain, it is not considered expedient to
repeat them in this message. But I be-
lieve the treaty will be found to contain
a just, honorable and therefore satisfac-
tory
SOLUTION OF TIE DIFFICULTIES
which have clouded our relations with our
neighbors on our northern border. Es-
peoiaily satisfactory do I believe the
proposed agreement will be found by
those of our citizens who are engaged in
the open sea fisheries adjacent to the Can
adam coast, and res storing to those ports
and harbors under the treaty provisions
and rules Of international law. The pro-
posed delimitation of the lines of exclus-
i've fisheries from the common fisheries
will give certainty and security as to the
area of their legitimate fields. The head
land theory of Imaginary lines is
ABANDONED BY GREAT BRITAIN,
and the specification in the treaty Of
certain named bays especially provided
for gives satisfaction to the inhabitants
of the shores without subtracting ma
terially from the value or convenience of
the fishery rights of Americans. The I'M
interrupted navigation of the strait of
Canso is expressly and for the FIRST time
affirmed, and the four purposes for which
our fishermen under the treaty of 1918
were allowed to enter the bays and harbors
of Canada and Newfoundland within the
belt of three miles, are placed under
fair and liberal construction and their
enjoyment secured without such condi-
tions and restrictions as in the past have
embarrassed and obstructed them SO Sc
riously. The enforcement of penalties
for unlawfully fishing or preparing TO
fish within the inshors and exclusive wa
tiers of Canada and Newfoundland is to
be accomplished under safeguards against
oppressive or arbitrary action, thus pro-
tecting the defendant fishermen from pnn-
ishment in advance of trial, delays, and
inconvenience and unnecessary expense.
The history of events in the last two
years shows that no feature of the Can
adam administration was more harrassing
and III furious than the conclusion upon
our fishing vessels to make q formal entry
and clearance on every occasion of tenn
porarily seeking shelter in Canadian
ports and harbors. Such inconvenience
is provided against in the proposed
treaty and now
THE MOST FREQUENT AND JUST CAUSE OF
COMPLAINT IS REMOVED.
The articles permitting our fishermen
to obtain provisions and the ordinary
supplies Of trading vessels on their
homeward voyages, and under which
they are accorded the further, and even
more important privilege on all occasions
Of purchasing such casual or needful pro-
visions and supplies as are ordinarily
granted to trading vessels are of great
i'm portance and value The licenses which
are TO be granted without charge and on
application in order TO enable orr fish
ermen to enjoy these privileges