New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-27
THE FISHERIES DISPUTE.
Secretary Root AdUises Patience ON
the Part of americans.

uacbipston Oct 26-While the most critical
points in the Newfoundland fisheries controversy
apparently have been settled. letter from Sec
rotary Root to Secretary Shaw, made pubic To-
dav. points out there is still ground for pos
sibIe friction and expresses wish that pend
ing the result of negotiations now In progress
American fishermen and local officials avoid any
preciptate action in the assertion of what they
conceive to be their rights. The PRONUNCIATION
of the letter followed a conference between Sec
retary Root and Sir Mortimer Durand, the Brit
ish Ambassador The letter follows:
Department of State,
Washington, Oct. %. 1900
To the Secretary of the Treasury.
Sir: The immediate difficulty experienced by
the American fishing fleet the treaty coast OF
Newfoundland appears to be happily disposed
of There are, however, some other questions
bearing upon the relations between the recent
legislation of Newfoundland and American
rights under the treaty Of 1918 with Great Brit
ain from which, in default of a clear under-
standing. further difficulties may possibly arise
These questions now under consideration
nv the two governments, with q confident eX-
pectation of reaching a satisfactory conclusion.
In the mean time I wish to bring to the at
tention of American fishermen some eX-
pressions contained In a recent letter received
by me from the British Ambassador. He says:
"I note with satisfaction that the government
of the United States will do everything in their
mower as we on our side shall certainly do, to
prevent any collision between American Usher
men and those OF Newfoundland, and l trust
that they will also do everything in their power
to prevent the occurrence of any other I'M
toward incident pending inquiry into the Ques-
ton of the Newfoundland Act respecting foreign
fishing vessels and the supposed misapprehen-
sion on the part OF certain Newfoundland OIL
Gals with regard to the status OF vessels on the
American register.
THE government of the United States cannot
doubt the desire of his maJestys government to
adhere strictly to all treaty provisions and all
that seems required IN order to bring about
satisfactory conclusion in a case of this nature
is the exercise by those concerned on both sides
of patience and good temper in the assertion OF
what they conceive TO be their rights. 1t would be
most unfortunate if the case were to be COM
plicated by any preciptate action on the part
of American fishermen or local officials. will
do all to prevent such action on the part
Of the local officials, and look to you with conf
dence to prevent it the part Of the American
fishermen"
We cannot fail to agree heartily with the
spirit and purpose thus expressed by the British
fact that the government of Great Britain is
dealing with the subject in this spirit will lead
all American fishermen to exercise under all
circumstances the patience and good temper
which the Ambassador justly deems so impor-
tant
May ask that you will communicate the con-
tents of this letter to the collector Of the port
of Gloucester, with the request that he bring 1t
to the notice of the owners and masters Of the
American fishing fieet-so largely owned at that
port. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient
servant ELIHU ROOT.