BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 305 



It was to the following effect in the French version : 



" Toute construction qui sera elevee a 1'avenir sans le consentement 

 de la Commission des Pecheries sera enlevee par 1'ordre du Commis- 

 sairo Britannique et sans indemnite, dans un delai de six mois dc la 

 notification qui en sera faite, si la place occupee par la dite construc- 

 tion est requise pour les besoins de la peche Franchise." 



It was proposed to substitute the words : " faite par la Commission 

 que la place occupee par la dite construction est necessaire pour les 

 besoins de la peche Frangaise." 



This alteration was proposed by the British Government in order 

 to make the erections removable, not on a requisition from the French 

 Government or its officer, but on notice from a Commission of which 

 a -British officer was a member. To this alteration the French Gov- 

 ernment objected on grounds with which it was difficult to deal, 

 because they proceeded from an acknowledged difference of view 

 between the two Governments. The British Government would, 

 however, have been willing subsequently to waive their objections 

 with regard to the wording of the 4th and 15th Articles of the Stipu- 

 lations which were framed in 1860, and to accept the arrangement 

 with some trifling modifications ; but on the matter being referred to 

 the French Government the proposal was rejected, nor did the French 

 Government give any reasons for their refusal to accept it. 



In the month of October 1874 negotiations were again renewed 

 with the French Government, Captain (afterwards Admiral) Miller 

 being appointed on the part of Her Majesty's Government, and 

 Captain de Boisspudy on that of France, and were continued, with 

 various interruptions, during the course of the years 1875 and 1876, 

 and, as you are aware, were not productive of any settlement. 



In the course of these negociations Her Majesty's Government 

 received the assistance of Sir F. Carter, Premier of Newfoundland, 

 who was in England at the time. 



The arrangement which was originally contemplated on this occa- 

 sion was founded on resolutions, dated the 23rd April 1874, adopted 

 by the Newfoundland House of Assembly, and concurred in by tho 

 legislative. Council, and it embraced the following stipulations : 



1. The establishment of a Joint Naval Commission to take cog- 

 nizance only of such matters as related to the fisheries; and in case 

 of disagreement, reference to be made to the respective Governments, 

 all other questions to be dealt with by competent authorities. 



2. That the existing British Settlements in St. George's Bay, Cod 

 Eoy, and Bay of Islands, Bonne Bay, and White Bay should remain 

 undisturbed : and no interruption to be made by the French to fishing 

 by the British in those bays, nor interference with their buildings 

 and enclosures there, nor with any erections or buildings on any part 

 of the coast where the French enjoy a temporary right of fishery 

 which did not actually interfere with the fishery privileges of the 

 French, as should be determined by the Commissioners; nor were 

 British subjects to be molested in fishing on any part where they did 

 not actually interrupt the French by their competition. 



3. That no building or enclosure which had been erected for five 

 years should be removed as interfering with the French fishery privi- 

 leges without compensation to be determined on by the Commission- 



