New-York tribune., 1909-01-01
TREATIESWITHBRITAIN
THREE READY TO SIGN.
Settling Newfoundland Fisheries and
Other Questions 1cith Canada.
From The Tribune Bureau


Washington. Dec. sL-The three important treaties
with Great Britain-deang with The Newfoundland
fisheries, the rights o. citizsnr the boundary
waters between the United States and Canada and
certain pecuniary csin1s-aII OF which have long
been in process OF negotiation. have been com
pieted and the Secretary Of State said to-day that
he expected 10 sign all three before resigntns the
portfolio of State Only small amount Of copy
tons in form FOR the signatures OF the Secretary
OF State and the British Ambassador
The Newfoundland comprons has been drawn
pursuant TO the mOdus vivendl successfully neg0-
tated by Ambassador Reid. and providing for sub
mission TO The Hague OF questions az issue regard
ing the Newfoundland hsherteS- IN accordance with
the provisions Of the Hague convention. it became
necessary TO negotiate conprJmis, whioh is a
lesser treaty defining the scope or the question or
questions submitted for arbitration. When the Sec
retaTy OF State and the British Ambassador under
took TO negotiate the courrorris an obstacle
encountered in the contention OF Secretary Root
that the arbtTatOTs should determine the rights or
this country in the light Of the negotiations ime-
diately following the War OF the Revolution and
including the treaty OF 1sls the latter being the
outcome and settlement OF the sputas which had
occurred IN the interim.
Finally, however. Secretary Root became 80
thoroughly convinced Of the force and accuracy OF
the contentious Of this country that he gracefully
yielded to the demand OF Great Britain that Article
I OF the Treaty Of 1878 be submitted to the court
Of arbitration for Interpretation and that It should
be interpreted q conclusive in itself and without
the inclusion Of previous events negotiations
This article contains the complete declaration Of
the rights O Americans IN Newfoundland waters,
the other I'VE paragraphs being merely definitions
in eEtenso and the usua- PRO torma declarations,
so the agreement reached submits to the arbttral
tribunal practically the entire question of the rght IS
of American fishermen. and le1ves % the court
their determination almost without Limitation.
Among the differences which have arisen under
the treaty Of 1918. as has been told IN these dis
patches. are tha questions 70 whether the right
70 take Hsh' means only fishing. or whether it
slso includes the right buy Ash. hirs British
subjects TO take dsh. etc. also whether 'inha5it+
ants Of the United States" or whom the treaty
c0nfsrs certain rights. shall be construed to mean
all persons sailing under the American flag. iuclud-
ing. for instance. British AMI other subjects who
have shipped, and. finally. whether the three
mile limit stipulated hy the treaty, within which
the inhabitants Of the United States may not Hsh.
shall be calculated from point TO point shall fol
Iow the shore line. etc The srbitrators ara eT-
rscred 70 settle all Of these points at issue.
The treaty dealing with certain pecuniarv claims
most Of which have grown out Of tbs fishery DIS
pure=. provides f0r the creation of joint commits
sion. and that such commission shall be governed
n the fisheries claims by the principles to be laid
down by the arbitraI tribunal -r would seem from
this that some time must eapss before the joint
commission can begin its labors.
The BOUNDARY waters trsatv-" has already
been told II these dispatches provides for the cres
rion OF A joint commission. to include ezper'
and turist or each side and iays down six broad
principles tor the guidance of the commissioners
besides raqui-ng their further r7nformance 70 the
agreements already reached -egarding Niagara
Falls and other waters and the negotiations which
have LED thereto.
IT IS regarded likely. that some opposition -
these conventions may be encountered IN the Sen
ate but It Is remarked that If t7sy not ratified
AZ the special session the Secretary of State will
have entered on his duties Senator With the
beginning OF that session and viii then be IN a
position To explain the treaties and the difficulties
he encountered in his efforts obtain further con
cesstors from Great Britain, well the din
cuties under which the British Ambassador
labored IN MS efforts TO meet rh- demands and
views Of both the Canadian authorities and the
Foreign Office IT Is confidently believed that M.
Roor viii be able 70 obraiu ne approval Of all
three conventions The Secretary Is greatly
pleased with the outcome Of RE negotiations, and
his ability 70 conclude them before leaving the
Department oT State.