The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-25
rHE MISSION or JUDGE GRAY
AND SENATOR ROOr.

WASHINGTON. May 7a.-Judgs Gray.
Senator Root and other appointed repre-
ssntatives Of the United States sailed Sat
urday for The Hague. Whsrs they will ny
10 settle by arbitration a dispute that dates
back 20 the early days of American indS-
pehdence. The issue u ably summarized
In articles published a. different times In
the Americas Journal Of IAisrAafi0Adl Leo
An article In the January. loo1. number
Of that publication says that 'ths New
foundlandl haheries question 4 - per-
ennial and insKhAustiblc a. the nsh which
the skippers Of Gloucester would fain
catch on the shores Of Newfoundland. >
Before the Revolution the ssttlsrs on the
western shore Of the Atlantic enjoyed the
right In common 70 aah wherever they saw
ht along the coast. Tbs hsh were many.
the fishers were comparatively few. and
there vas mora than abundance for all.
The change In political conditions In
America aud the establishment Of bound
airy lines made the fisheries QUESTION q
matter Of International treaty. The
treaty Of September .. lTD. imposed
no restriction on the right Of Americans
10 catch Ash In Newfoundland or Cana
dian waters. but placed limitations on
the right 10 land for the purpose Of
drying or curing the catch. This con-
dition held until the war Of 1917. The
Treaty Of Client (Decembar -. isiD
left the fisheries question unsettled.
In 1915 a British slOop Of war warned an
American fisherman not TO come within
SIXTY miles Of the Newfoundland coast.
This was practically the beginning Of
an international dispute that mas lasted
for ninsty-ave years. at times tempo
rarily adjusted by treaty or suspended
by mOdus vivendi. and at times menac-
ing seriously the relations between Eng
land and the United States.
The treaty Of ISIS was intended and
was supposed 70 define the fishery rights
Of the Americans, and no serious question
arose under IL Tor twenty-five years. Then
came the issue Of the -three mile limit.
BY the treaty Of ISIS the United States
renowned forever any liberty heretofore
enjoyed or claimed by the inhabitants
thereof 20 take. dry. or cure Ash on or
within three marine miles Of any Of the
coasts. hays. creeks or hArbors Of his Bril-
fannie Maiesty's dominiOns In America
not included within certain declared limits.
The pith Of the controversy was the ques-
ton whether the three mile limit followed
all tho sinuOsities Of the coast or a
general coast line irrespective Of the
width or depth Of the various coast in
dentations. The diplomatic hattie was
dragged along until its suspension by the
reciprocity treaty Ol isst. That gave the
American fishermen practically all that
they claimed or desired. The denOunce-
ment Of that treaty by the United States
and lie termination in iSsa brought the
fisheries matter again into the arena Of
diplomatic contest Il was quieted Tor a
few zee ~ by q system ot colonial licenses
70 American fishermen. Of which the Amer
loans appear 20 have taken some unlawful
advantages
Another treaty was made IN 1871. ami
that lasted until ias5. A new treaty was
negotiated in isss. but the senate failed 70
ratiiy II. Secretary Blaine and the Hon.
Robert Bond Of Newfoundland came 20
an agreement in 1850. but Canada entered
objection 10 its sanction and the British
Government declined to approve the
Blaine Bond arrangement. The matter
then fell hack to the disputed terms of
the treaty of ISIS The United States
SenAte rejected the Hay-Bond treaty
signed by thoss officials In i0O7. This Ia
the record In general outline. but not
in full detail. From time n time in
these periods effort was made 20 elect a
permanent adjustment. On January u.
1903, Secretary Root for the United States
and the Hon. James Bryce for tho Brit
ish Government signed a special agree
ment for the submission II questions 70
lating 70 fisheries on the north Atlantic
coast % a tribunal Of arbitration for
which provision was made In the agree
ment. The questions 20 he considered
were specified. a. were the general pro-
ceedinRs n tho court. The hearing viii
begin neHt month. and there Il every
promise n friendly hattie that will no
memora BILE in international history.
The bringing ~ this ancient and per-
picking issue 20 its present position stands
u the credit It the Hon Elihu Root and
no less to the credit IT the Hon. James
Bryce. England's distinguished Amhas-
aador 20 the United States.