BRITISH, COLONIAL. AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 227 

 [Inclosure.] 



Memorandum on the Newfoundland Fishery Negotiations. 



Subsequently to the Reports made by Sir A. Perrier to the Earl of 

 Aberdeen, on the 5th of September and the 8th November, 1843, 

 Conferences were held at Newfoundland by Mr. ^Thomas, President 

 of the Chamber of Commerce, and Captain Fabvre, Commander of 

 the French Naval Station. 



The proceedings at these Conferences may be briefly recapitulated. 



Captain Fabvre commenced by proposing that a concurrent right 

 of Fishery should be admitted on the French coasts to the westward 

 of Newfoundland, and a similar concurrent right on the Labrador 

 coast in the Straits of Belle Isle immediately opposite. 



This was decidedly objected to by Mr. Thomas, as being likely 

 to increase difficulties and promote collisions. Mr. Thomas then 

 proposed to allow to the French an exclusive right of Fishery on 

 coasts of Newfoundland, extending from Bonne Bay to Cape St. 

 John, and on the island of Belle Isle; and also, that Bait (caplin 

 and herrings) should be sold at St. Pierre under certain restrictions 

 at exportation from the coast of Newfoundland. 



Monsieur Fabvre approved of these limits; reserving, however, 

 to France, the exclusive possession of four points to the North- 

 ward of Bonne Bay; viz: Cod Roy, Red Island, Port a Port, and 

 Lark Harbour. 



M. Fabvre also thought that France should have a concurrent right 

 of Fishery on that part of Labrador situated in the Straits of Belle 

 Isle. 



He concluded by stating that he did not reject Mr. Thomas's pro- 

 posal ; but that he did not consider himself sufficiently authorized by 

 His Government to accept it. 



This matter having been taken into consideration by the two Gov- 

 ernments, it was agreed that a commission should be held in Paris to 

 endeavor to come to a definite settlement of the question. 



Captain Fabvre was named on the part of France, and Sir A. 

 Perrier was appointed by Her Majesty's Government. 



The commissioners met in Paris in March, 1846. 



Captain Fabvre proposed a reciprocal right of Fishery on the west 

 coast of Newfoundland, and on the coast of Labrador opposite, sub : 

 ject to regulations to be enforced by Government Cruisers of both 

 nations. 



Sir A. Perrier could not admit this proposal, for the same reasons 

 which had caused it to be rejected by Mr. Thomas. 



Sir A. Perrier then reproduced the proposal made by Mr. Thomas 

 to Captain Fabvre at Newfoundland. 



Captain Fabvre replied that the new instructions he had received 

 did not admit of his entering into this arrangement, but that he would 

 make another proposal later. 



Whether from difference of opinion between the Marine and For- 

 eign Departments, or from some other cause, Captain Fabvre could 

 not get the Minister for Foreign Affairs to consent to this proposal 

 being brought forward, so that in May, 1847, Lord Palmerston or- 

 dered Sir A. Perrier to return to his post at Brest. 



In July, 1851, application was made by the French Ambassador 

 in London for a renewal of the Newfoundland negotiations broken 

 92909- S. Doc. 870, ttl-3, vol 6 23 



