[longlev] difficulties WITH NEWFOUNDLAND 255 



Act. Advise Colonial Office by cable as soon as possible that this 

 explanation is satisfactory. 



(Signed) Thorburn, 

 Shea." 



The other cable dated St. Johns was from Sir James Winter, 

 Attorney-General : 



"We learn with surprise and regret your Government apprehend 

 our Bait Act wall interfere with Canadian fishermen. I am authorized 

 to give you fullest assurance no interference or hindrance whatever, 

 of Canadian fishermen contemplated. Act necessarily framed so as 

 to confer upon Governor discretionary power in granting licenses to 

 sell or export bait, our only object being to prevent supply to foreign 

 subsidized rivals. Fullest rights and privileges of British fishermen to 

 take or purchase for their own use, as hitherto enjoyed, will be main- 

 tained. Please communicate this information to your representative 

 or agents in London to remove objection to act and promote royal 

 assent." 



(Signed) Attorney-General. 



These assurances were supported by two letters, .dated April 27, 

 1887, addressed respectively by Sir Robert Thorburn and Sir Ambrose 

 Shea to the Colonial Secretary, in which it is stated categorically that 

 "no supposed ambiguity in its terms will be allowed to operate to the 

 prejudice of Canadian fishermen, with whom we have common rights 

 on the coast of the Dominion." 



Upon the faith of these distinct and unequivocal assurances from 

 the highest authority on the Island, the Act received the royal assent, 

 but some time elapsed before it was brought into operation by 

 proclamation. 



But Sir Robert and Sir Ambrose had other business in London. 

 The latter, who made not unfrequent visits to Washington, and was an 

 adroit and astute public man, on the second day of July, 1887, ad- 

 dresse'd a note to the colonial office enclosing a communication received 

 from Mr. E.J. Phelps, LInited States Minister in London, touching a 

 separate arrangement with Newfoundland for the settlement of the 

 fishery question of that colony, and intimating that he could take no 

 further step except under the direction of Her Majesty's Government. 

 The note from Mr. Phelps was in the following terms: 



"London, 16th June, 1887. 



Dear Sir Ambrose: 

 Should the Government of Newfoundland see fit to give notice 

 that American fishermen be admitted to the ports of that Province 



