New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-11
AGAINST BAYARDS TREATY.
THE, MAJoRrTYs STRONG OBJECTIONS.
A CAREFUL, UNPARTIsAN AND LOGICAL PROTEST
AGAINST THE FIsHERIKs AGREEMENT-THE
MINORITY OFFERS SERIES OF APOLOGIES

AGAINST TIE fIsHERIss AGREEMENT-THE
MINORITY OFFERS SERIES OF APOLOGIES
FOR BRITISH cIAIMs-RIGHTs OF
a3 THE PEOPLE IGNORED.
WASHINGTON, May 1o.-The Senate failed this
afternoon to finish consideration Of the resolutions
offered by Senators IIoar and Riddleberger pro-
vidng for the consideration of the Fisheries
Treaty in open session, or at least the admission
Of an official reporter TO report the debates.
and they will be taken up again on Monday. The
Senate did remove the injunction of secrecy, how
ever, from the majority report of the Senate Com
mittec on Foreign Relations upon the treaty.
and OF the views of the minority. Both were
made public this evening
The majority report signed by Senators Sher-
man, Edmunds, Frye, Evarts and Dolph, is
perhaps of the most carefully considered state
papers ever submitted by a committee of Congress.
1t considered the whole question from legal point
of view, without dropping into partisan
considerations or patriotic lingoism. The whole
history Of our inherent and our acquired rights
in the northeastern fisheries upon the Atlantic
coast is carefully traced the legal bearings laid
down and every Interpretation OF past treaties
dwelt upon; The weakness of Mr. Bayard's nego-
tiation and the manner in which he formally
cedes the rights clearly belonging to the United
States are strongly pictured and the necessity
Of repudiating the treaty urged upon the Senate.
A CAMPAIGN DOCUMENT FOR THE MINORITY.
touch very lightly upon the rights of the fisher
men, but may be considered strong, perhaps,
personal defence of President Cleveland The
paper, evidently was prepared with great care
at the State Department as a campaign document,
but it Overreaches itself by continued personal
reference TO Cleveland, and hating half-apolosy
for every British claim aud demand. The rights
and claims of the people are barely touched upon.
The keynote to the half-whining apology for fail
ure may be found in the following captions TO
different parts Of the document: Measures Of
hostility either commercial or actual are not
preferable to the treaty before the Senate" The
President has only performed pain duty in the
interest of all the people of the United States,
and to the Senate is left the responsibility"
" The views of the President of the United States
as TO the proper execution Of the act of March
3, 1887, opposed TO those of the capitalists who
control our fishing industries and reap the great
est advantages from them" These quotations
indicate the entire scope of the views Of the
minority
CONCLUSIONS OF THE MAJORITY
The following is the majority's summary and
conclusion:
1.-The United States recognizes as British territory
and forever all claim Of independent right all
the great bays along the British North American
named in the treaty and admit that all such bays form
Of and within British territorial sovereignty and
Jurisdiction
I0f the few Of such great bays that are left be
visited by American fishermen the larger part under
stood to be valueless and OF them subject
French fishery rights older than they Brit
ish bays
III.-H bay fishing is not profitable It may be IN
ihe future.
Iv.Whether profitable not the United States ought
not give up upon any consideration whatever right
Of Its vessels of every character visit and bust
ness in any part Of the public seas.
V-The treaty surrenders the claim and right Of the
United States which has been acted upon and exercised
for than century, of its vessels engaged in
fishing or ether occupations to visit and carry On their
business in great bays principle
claim and right has been solemny decided against
Great Britain by tribunal organized under with
that Government
VL-The new area of delimtation described in the
treaty greatly increases the danger Of fishermen unn
tentonay invading prohibited and thereby exposing
them TO seizures and penalties.
VI1-The treaty by It's nth article renounces any
right Of the United States IN any bay, etc.. however
large that cannot he reached from without pass
ing within the three marine miles Article
of the convention of October 90 1915" thus excluding
vessels OF the United States all waters however ex
ensve and the distance headands is how
ever great the sailing channel which may happen
be within three miles Of the Shore
VIII-The treaty is complete surrender Of any claim
OF right existing either under treaty OF 1888
the treaty Of 1913 the acts Of Congress and the British
orders in council Of 1880, the twenty ninth
the treaty Of 1871 for the United States en-
gagged in fishing anywhere the high seas and even hay
ing commercial character also TO enter any mort OF
British North America for any commercial purpose what
and puts in place clear rights which in
respect Of British fishing vessels exist in United
States 10 the fullest extent greatly and condi
dona rights as arising solely from grant OF
Great Bi;sin
IX.-N binds the United States to be content with
whatever is by this treaty Of its
rights and to be content with 1t forever greater
hospitality and freedom of intercourse be obtained by
further concessions or considerations on our part
Kin the face Of all this it leaves British North
American fishing vessels possessed of all rights
In all the ports and waters Of the United States
XL-Whaever privileges Of commerce. hospitality or
humanity thus provided for In the treaty to be OBJ
tained only condiCn fishing vessel Of the
United States shall receive Of them unless such fishing
vessels SHALL under regulations the Secretary Of tho
Treasury Of the United States be branded an Official
number each bow, and that such regulations shall be-
fore they become enectual, be communicated by Her
Majesty's Government
KILT provides that general, and even then much |
limited, commercial rights and rights Of shipment
mentioned in Article To- shall be only
price Of exemptng all Canadian fishery products our
;ustom duties.
KILLS provisions concerning the executive and u.
cial treatment OF American vessels and fishermen
nay be seized arrested for supposed Illegal are
make the most Of them, nothing other and probably
omethng less than statement OF what the laws and
uc Of administration OF every Government protesting
be civilized should adopt and exercise duty
nd justice.
XIv-Instead diminishing sources of irritation and
aus Oh dlnculty oneient interpretations and disputes
WILL tho committee thinks, very largely increase
Various other suggestions adverse 10 the wisdom of rat
yng this treaty might easily be made, committee
Ices not think 1t necessary to 60 them. The CON-
nitee cannot tut hope that il these sdvised negotiations
which, is known TO al the world cannot properly COM
nit the United States in any degree until they shall have
eceived the constitutional Senate shall fail
meet the approval of this body Her Maestys Govern
aens will take TO justice and fair treat
nent In her North American domnions to American yes
and Inap ri ttzana IN all
and that that Government will see the JUS
ice and poprety Of according to American vessels en-
aged in the business Of fishing all the commercial rights
nd facilities in her North American ports that are 80
RELY and cheeruly accorded her the ports OF
he United States and that thus the friendship and good
ceiling which ought exist between neghboIing nations
nay be finally established ard secured.
CLAIMS SET UP BY THE MINORITY.
The minority report says:
1.-TWO objections TO this treaty stated In committee
ThatiL nd md hv