BRITISH, COLONIAL, AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 353 



to the proper meaning of the treaty of 1818 a discussion rendered 

 inevitable by the policy of your Ministers. 



With full knowledge of these facts your Ministers have deliberately 

 decided to take action which may immeasurably increase the difficulty 

 of the task which Newfoundland has imposed upon Great Britain. 

 In these circumstances I have to inform your Ministers that, in en- 

 deavouring to frustrate the purely temporary measures which His 

 Majesty's Government consider most likely to lead to a successful 

 termination of the negotiations with the United States, they incur 

 a grave responsibility which His Majesty's Government decline to 

 share. His Majesty's Government will endeavour in the future, as 

 in the past, to defend the claims of Newfoundland under the treaty 

 of 1818 to the best of their ability, but if the difficulties in their way 

 become increased your Ministers must bear the blame. 



ELGIN. 



Governor MacGregor to Lord Elgin. 



[Telegram.] 



(Received 3.16 p. m., November 16, 1906.) 



"Daily News" this morning states summonses taken out Bay of 

 Islands against two men shipped on schooner Ralph Hall. Alexan- 

 der advising Americans not resist, but rather facilitate trial of men 

 that question may be settled in Court. Apparently Fiona absent 

 serving summonses. 



MACGREGOR. 



Governor MacGregor to Lord Elgin. 



[Telegram.] 



(Received 5.1 p. m., November 16, 1906.) 



Inspector, Police, Bay of Islands, reports, 14th November, about 

 200 men engaged in American ships," Bay of Islands. Two sum- 

 monses issued for Alexander Dubois and George Crane, Woods 

 Island, for shipping herring on American ship Ralph Hall, 12th 

 November, -without a licence. Summons returnable 15th November. 

 No reason anticipate disturbance. 



MACGREGOR. 



Governor MacGregor to Lord Elgin. 



GOVERNMENT HOUSE, St. John's, November SO, 1906. 



(Received December 4, 1906.) 



MY LORD : I have the honour to transmit, for your information, a 

 report of the public proceedings that took place in Court at Bay of 

 Islands in connection with the legal prosecutions instituted against 

 the two fishermen Alexander Dubois and George Crane, who were 

 convicted of a violation of the Bait Act by putting a barrel of herring 

 on board the American schooner Ralph L. Hall. 



