PERIOD FROM 1854 TO 1871. 575 



on the southern coast of Labrador, to and through the straits of Belle 

 Isle, and thence northwardly, indefinitely, along the coast; " and also 

 " the unsettled bays, harbours, and creeks of the southern part of the 

 coast of Newfoundland hereabove described, and of the coast of 

 Labrador " will be excluded from the operations of the Commission, 

 whose duty will therefore be confined to ascertaining what is the real 

 extent and meaning of the renunciation, on the part of the United 

 States, " to take, dry, or cure fish on or within three marine miles of 

 any of the coasts, bays, creeks, or harbours of His Britannic Majesty's 

 dominions in America not included within the above-mentioned 

 limits; " and, having ascertained these points, then to lay down regu- 

 lations under which United States' fishermen may be " admitted to 

 enter such bays or harbours for the purpose of shelter and repairing 

 damages therein, of purchasing wood, and of obtaining water; " and 

 to agree upon a system of police for enforcing the conclusions at 

 which the Commission may arrive. 



If I have correctly described the object of the United States in the 

 present proposal, Her Majesty's Government will readily accede to it, 

 and will cordially co-operate in removing a source of much irritation 

 between the subjects and citizens of the two countries. 



In any case, however, Her Majesty's Government would reserve, 

 as that of the United States are also prepared for themselves to 

 reserve, the right of considering the recommendations of the Joint 

 Commission, before they can finally be held binding on the two Gov- 

 ernments; and Her Majesty's Government would hold themselves 

 entitled to maintain, pending the determination of the questions to 

 be discussed, the principle for which they have heretofore contended, 

 and to enforce all regulations and assert all rights which previously 

 to the conclusions of the Reciprocity Treaty, the British Government 

 asserted and enforced. Therefore, if the purport of the concluding 

 paragraph of Mr. Adams' paper is meant by the United States to 

 involve an obligation on the part of Her Majesty's Government to 

 continue to allow, during the silling of the Commission, fishermen of 

 the United States to enjoy in British waters the privileges under 

 the Reciprocity Treaty which the Government of the United States 

 have now renounced for their citizens, you will frankly Btate to 

 Mr. Seward thai into such an engagement Her Majesty's Govern- 

 ment cannot enter. 



Her Majesty's Governmenl arc mosl desirous thai the rights of the 

 ( Solo oiee mould be so enforced as to give the leasl possible occasion 

 for- complaint or discus ion. They have cordially approved, and have 

 recommended to the Governments of the other British Provinces, a 

 proposal made by the authorities of Canada, thai American fishermen 

 should for the present season be allowed to enjoy, under special 

 licenses, the benefits conferred by the Reciprocity Treaty, and they 

 will be glad to Learn that the Lower Provinces have adopted an 

 arrangement intended to prevent the change of circumstances From 



opera! i rig sudden I v to the injury of the fishing interests of cit i/.ens of 



the United States; bul they cannot engage indefinitely to adhere to 

 tin em, though thei are perfectly prepared to concert with the 



United States for substituting for i1 a more permanent arrangemenl 

 which, either solely applicable to fisheries, or more generally com- 

 prising the common interests of Her Majesty's subjects, and those of 

 the citizens of the United States, shall hold out a promt e of mutual 



