794 APPENDIX TO BEITISH CASE. 



XIII. THE VIEWS or THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AS TO THE 



PROPER EXECUTION OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF MARCH 3, 1887, OP- 

 POSED TO THOSE OF THE CAPITALISTS WHO CONTROL OUR FISHING IN- 

 DUSTRY AND REAP THE GREATEST ADVANTAGES FROM THEM. 



The president of the American Fishery Union, in 1887, brought the 

 subject of retaliation to the attention of the President of the 



477 United States, and insisted that it should be applied only to 

 the exclusion of British-American fishing products from" the 



markets of the United States. To that demand the President of the 



United States replied as follows: 



EXECUTIVE MANSION, 

 Washington, D. C., April 7, 1S87. 



GENTLEMEN : I have received your letter lately addressed to me, and have 

 given full consideration to the expression of the views and wishes therein con- 

 tained in relation to the existing differences between the Government of Great 

 Britain and the United States growing out of the refusal to award to our citi- 

 zens engaged in fishing enterprises the privileges to which they are entitled 

 either under treaty stipulations or the guaranties of international comity and 

 neighborly concession. I sincerely trust the apprehension you express of unjust 

 and unfriendly treatment of American fishermen lawfully found in Canadian 

 waters will not be realized ; but if such apprehension should prove to be well 

 founded, I earnestly hope that no fault or inconsiderate action of any of our 

 citizens will in the least weaken the just position of our Government, or deprive 

 us of the universal sympathy and support to which we should be entitled. 



The action of this administration since June, 1885, when the fishery articles 

 of the treaty of 1871 were terminated under the notification which had two years 

 before been given by our Government, has been fully disclosed by the correspond- 

 ence between the representatives and the appropriate departments of the respec- 

 tive Governments, with which I am apprised by your letter you are entirely 

 familiar. An examination of this correspondence has doubtless satisfied you 

 that in no case have the rights or privileges of American fishermen been over- 

 looked or neglected, but that, on the contrary, they have been sedulously in- 

 sisted upon and cared for by every means within the control of the executive 

 branch of the Government. 



The act of Congress approved March 3, 1887, authorizing a course of retalia- 

 tion, through executive action, in the event of a continuance on the part of the 

 British-American authorities of unfriendly conduct and treaty violations affect- 

 ing American fisherman, has developed upon the President of the United States 

 exceedingly grave and solemn responsibilities, comprehending highly important 

 consequences to our national character and dignity, and involving extremely 

 valuable commercial intercourse between the British possessions in Xorth Amer- 

 ica and the people of the United States. 



I understand the main purpose of your letter is to suggest that, in case 

 recourse to the retaliatory measures authorized by this act should be invited by 

 unjust treatment of our fishermen in the future, the object of such retaliation 

 might be fully accomplished by " prohibiting Canadian-caught fish from entry 

 into the ports of the United States." 



The existing controversy is one in which two nations are the parties con- 

 cerned. The retaliation contemplated by the act of Congress is to be enforced, 

 not to protect solely any particular interest, however meritorious or valuable, 

 but to maintain the national honour, and thus protect all our people. In this 

 view the violation of American fishery rights and unjust or unfriendly acts to- 

 wards a portion of our citizens engaged in this business is but the occasion for 

 action, and constitutes a national affront, which gives birth to or may Justify 

 retaliation. This measure once resorted to, its effectiveness and value may 

 well depend upon the thoroughness and extent of its application : and in the 

 performance of international duties, the enforcement of international rights, 

 and the protection of our citizens, this Government and the people of the 

 United States must act as a unit, all intent upon attaining the best result of re- 

 taliation upon the basis of a maintenance of national honor and duty. 



The nation seeking by any means to maintain its honor, dignity, and integrity, 

 is engaged in protecting the right of the people; and if, in such efforts, particu- 

 lar interests are injured and special advantages forfeited, these things should be 



