QUESTION SIX. 97 



ning, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on May 3, 1824, 

 in regard to the whole subject,. stating that 



The United States seek only the fair and unmolested enjoyment 

 of the fishing rights which they hold at the hands of Great Britain 

 under the convention of 1818, satisfied that Great Britain, whether 

 as regards the guarantee of those rights, or the maintenance of her 

 own sovereign jurisdiction over this island and its immediate waters, 

 will take such steps as the occasion calls for, and above all, as are 

 appropriate to the just and amicable intentions which it may be so 

 confidently supposed will animate the Government of his most Chris- 

 tian Majesty, as well as that of his Britannic Majesty, towards the 

 United States, touching the full rights of the latter under the con- 

 vention aforesaid. 



Mr. George Canning promptly submitted Mr. Rush's note and 

 accompanying documents to Mr. Stratford Canning, who, as above 

 stated, was one of the British Commissioners in the conferences then 

 being carried on with Mr. Rush, with a request that they be examined 

 with attention, and for an expression of his views. Mr. Stratford 

 Canning wrote, in reply to Mr. George Canning, on May 6, 1824, 

 stating that " whatever right to take fish is enjoyed by British sub- 

 jects on the western coast of Newfoundland, the same is to be equally 

 enjoyed by the citizens of the United States, in so far as depends 

 on the consent and authority of the British Government." 6 This 

 language, it will be observed, is even more explicit than that used in 

 the protocol of the 14th Conference between Messrs. Canning and 

 Huskisson and Mr. Rush, which is quoted above, and it shows 

 beyond question that the bays, creeks, and harbors on the west coast 

 of Newfoundland were understood to be included in the American 

 treaty coast under the treaty of 1818. 



In this letter, after expressing his views on the questions presented 

 by Mr. Rush's note, Mr. Canning added : 



But there is another case to be provided for. The claim of France 

 to take fish on the western coast of Newfoundland may turn out to 

 be exclusive with respect to Great Britain as well as to the United 

 States. As to how far it may be just and necessary for Great Britain 

 to admit, or possible for France to make good such a pretension, in 

 virtue of treaties, I must take the liberty of referring you to the re- 

 port, No. 7, c addressed to you on the 15th ultimo by Mr. Huskisson 

 and myself. Whatever information we were able to collect on this 

 branch of the subject is substantially contained in that statement. 



In the event of the supposed claim being either at once admitted, 

 or fairly substantiated in such manner as to exclude the British no 



TJ. S. Counter-Case Appendix, p. 129. 



6 British Case Appendix, p. 112. 



Great Britain has not furnished the United States with a copy of this report. 



