672 APPENDIX TO BRITISH CASE. 



therefore subsequently prepared by the United States Government, 

 which, at the request of Lord Iddesleigh, was submitted to him. 



But I observe, with some surprise, that in his note of November 30, 

 last, his Lordship refers to that proposal made in my note of llth 

 September, as a proposition that Her Majesty's Government " should 

 temporarily abandon the exercise of the Treaty rights which they 

 claim and which they conceive to be indisputable." 



In view of the very grave questions that exist as to the extent of 

 those rights, in respect to which the views of the United States Gov- 

 ernment differ so widely from those insisted upon by Her Majesty's 

 Government, it does not seem to me an unreasonable proposal that 

 the two Governments, by a temporary and mutual concession, with- 

 out prejudice, should endeavour to reach some middle ground of ad 

 interim construction, by which existing friendly relations might be 

 preserved, until some permanent Treaty arrangements could be made. 



The reasons why a revision of the Treaty of 1818 can not now, in 

 the opinion of the United States Government, be hopefully under- 

 taken, and which are set forth in my note to Lord Iddesleigh of 

 September 11, have increased in force since that note was written. 



I again respectfully commend the proposal above mentioned to the 

 consideration of Her Majesty's Government. 



I have, etc., E. J. PHELPS. 



401 No. 232. 1887, January 28: Letter from Sir L. S. 8. West to 



Mr. Bayard. 



WASHINGTON, January 28, 1887. 



SIR : With reference to your note of the 20th of May last, I have 

 the honor to transmit to you herewith copy of a report by the minis- 

 ter of justice of the Dominion of Canada upon the seizure of the 

 American fishing vessel David J. Adams, which I am instructed by 

 Her Majesty's principal secretary of State for foreign affairs to com- 

 municate to the United States Government. 

 I have, &c., 



L. S. SACKVILLE WEST. 



No. 233. 1887, February 1: Report of a Committee of the Privy 

 Council for Canada, approved by His Excellency the Governor 

 General in Council. 



The Committee of the Privy Council have had under consideration 

 a despatch dated 30th December, 1886, from the Right Honourable 

 the Secretary of State for the Colonies, forwarding, for the informa- 

 tion of the Canadian Government, a note received through the For- 

 eign Office from the United States' Minister in London, enclosing a 

 draft of a Memorandum for an arrangement between the British and 

 United States' Governments on the subject of the North American 

 Fisheries, entitled a " proposal for the settlement of the question in 

 dispute in relation to the fisheries on the north-eastern coasts of 

 British North America," accompanied by a despatch dated Washing- 

 ton, 15th November, 1886, from Mr. Bayard, United States' Secretary 



