The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-06-24
BLUENOSE FISH IN YANKEE MARKETS.
Canada Was for Negotiating Treaty
in Hot Haste,
But Secretary Blaine hid Not Propose
TO Co too Fast.
Ne Wanted to Know the Terms Be-
fore Making the Bargain.

OTTAWA, Ont, June 23-In the Senate
yesterday additional correspondence on the
reciprocity proposals between Canada and
the United States was brought down. This
embraced correspondence between Mr.. Blaine
and SlrJulian Pauncefote on the matter. The
first batch Of letter deals with parliamentary
arrangements for conference.
Then comes letter from Mr.. Blaine to
Sir Julian, written short time before
the conference, in which he says:
II an agreement is reached, all is well; If not,
no omclai mention Is to be made of this effort.
ABOVE all tnlngs it Is important to avoid public
reference to the matter This the President will
Insist on.
In another letter. later, is an angry tone.
The Canadian elections were over. Mr..
Blaine. writing to Sir Julian. reminds
him f0rcibly Of the agreement as to se-
crecy that was made between the govern
ments, which he Is informed was not OBJ
canvass.
On November 9th, In note from the for
eign office to the colonial office, Lord Knuts-
ford encloses draft of the proposed con
yention between Newfoundland and the
United States, privately communicated by
Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr.. Blaine for the
trade relations. Lord Stanley's cable mes
sage to Lord Knutsford, dated November 10,
says:
The government views with alarm the proposed
convention between Newfoundland and the
United states; 1t affects the fishing interests of
Canada as well as those OF Newfoundland and
places the fishery and other products OF Canada
at disadvantage In United States markets. The
government demonstrates in the strongest terms
against the signature of the proposed convention
at Washington.
On November 18th, Lord Knutsford in a
cable despatch TO the governor-general says /:
In the present urgent condition OF Newfound-
land 1t Is unfortunate that feeling should be ex-
cited by the opposition of Canada to the effort
OIL Newfoundland to relieve its distress.
November &c. Lord Stanley makes this
communication to Lord Kuntsferd:
The Canadian ministers are prepared to open
negotiations Immediately on the lines Indicated
In the telegram OF the 10Th, provided their repre-
sentatives at Washington, could be commissioners
associated with the British minister and empow-
erea 70 negotiate directly instead Of being merely
would be inapplicable in some details and incom-
plete IN others desired by Canada, they think
than an inclusion In the Newfoundland one.
November %, His Excellency sent Sir Jul
ian Pauncefote this dispatch:
We are prepared to arrange for our commercial
relations with the United States being literally
delegates to Washington unoficialiy. as liable te
give rise TO mlsunderstaDdings bur is ready at
once TO open formal negotiations with the sane
ton OF her Ma1esty's government.
On December 18th, Lord Stanley sent this
proposal to the home government:
This government is desirous to propose a Joint
commission such as that OF 1871 with authority to
deal without limitation aud prepare a treaty re
specting the following subjects: Ist, the renewal
Of the reciprocity treaty OF 1854 with the modif
cations required by the altered circumstances of
both countries; I'd, the reconsideration of the
treaty OF 1888 with respect to the Atlantic fish
cries, with the aim OF securing free admission In
10 the United States markets of Canadian fishery
products. in return for facilities granted United
states fishermen to buy bait and supplies and
tranship their cargoes In Canada all such priyi-
leges TO be mutual; Sd, the protection of macker-
el ana other fisheries in the Atlantic ocean and
In the inland waters; 4th, the relaxation of the
seaboard coasting laws OF the two countries and,
9th, OF the coastng laws of the inland waters dl-
Vidng Canada from the United States; 9th, mIl-
tual salvage and salVing OF wrecked vessels tn,
an arrangement for settling the boundaries be-
tween Canada and Alaska.
Lord Kuntsford, January 81, 1891, says:
Mr.: Blaine relpied to the endeavor to obtain the
appointment OF a formal commission to arrive at
a reciprocity treaty, that 1t would be useless but
the United states government was willing TO dis
euss the question In private with Sir Julian
Pauncefote and one or more delegates from Can
ada, and consider every subject as to which the re
Was hope Of agreement In the ground of mutual
by private discussion he had satfied himself that
good ground existed for expecting agreement by
means OF commission. He added that he should
pc prepared to enter into private negotiations any
time after March 4th.