DESPATCHES, EEPOETS, COEBESPONDENCE, ETC. 491 



In imparting to the British Government these views, you may in 

 your discretion read this despatch to Lord Granville and, if he desires 

 it, leave him a copy. 



I am, sir, your obedient servant 



(Signed) WM. M. EVARTS. 



No. 175. 1881, February 26: Letter from Earl Granville to the 

 Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. 



FOREIGN OFFICE, February 6, 1881. 



MY LORDS, Your Lordships are aware that a correspondence has 

 taken place with the Government of the United States with regard 

 to certain claims of American fishermen on account of the interrup- 

 tion of their fishing on the coasts of Newfoundland, amounting to 

 about 120,000 dollars, including interest. 



The Government of the United States suggested that these claims 

 should be referred for assessment to the United States' Secretary of 

 State and Her Majesty's Minister at Washington, or to delegates 

 named by them, but it appeared to Her Majesty's Government that 

 it was, for many reasons, desirable to avoid so dilatory a process of 

 investigation, and I was accordingly authorized by the Cabinet to 

 offer a sum of 15.000Z or 75.000 dollars, in full settlement of the claims. 



The United States' Minister has informed me to-day that this offer 

 is accepted, and I have stated to him in reply that Her Majesty's Gov- 

 ernment are ready to hold this sum of 15,OOOZ at the disposal of the 

 Government of the United States on receiving his assurance that it 

 is accepted in full of all claims arising out of any interruption of 

 American fishermen on the coasts of Newfoundland and its depend- 

 encies up to the present time, and without prejudice to any question 

 of the rights of either Government under the Treaty of Washington. 



I have now therefore to request that your Lordships will be good 

 enough to give the necessary directions for this amount to be held in 

 readiness. 



I have forwarded a copy of this letter to Her Majesty's Secretary 

 of State for the Colonies, with whom it will rest to make application 

 to the Governor of Newfoundland for the ultimate refund of this 

 payment. 



I am, &c., (Signed) GRANVILLE. 



No. 176. 1881 , March 2: Letter from Mr. Lowell to Earl Granville. 



LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, 



London, March 2nd, 1881. 



MY LORD, I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship that, having 

 inquired of Mr. Evarts by telegraph of the nature of the as- 

 surance that I might give your Lordship upon the receipt of 

 293 the proposed indemnity in the Newfoundland fishery trans- 

 actions, I received from him an answer by cable late last 

 evening to the following effect : 



The assurance I may give is this: that the sum paid is accepted 

 in full of all claims arising out of any interruption of American 



