APPENDIX (E). 



Correspondence respecting the Award of the Halifax Fisheries 



Commission. 



No. 1. Mr. Evarts to Mr. Welsh. (Communicated to the Marquis 

 of Salisbury by Mr. Welsh, October 10, 1878.) 



DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 

 WASHINGTON, September 27, 1878. 



SIR, I am directed by the President to present to the attention of 

 Her Majesty's Government the sentiments of this Government re- 

 specting the result of the deliberations of the commission, lately 

 sitting at Halifax, for the determination of the question submitted to 

 it under the articles of the Treaty of Washington relating to the 

 fisheries. It is the purpose of the present communication to put you 

 fully in possession of those sentiments that you may impart them to 

 Lord Salisbury with the same frankness that they are disclosed to 

 yourself. 



It is a matter of sincere regret to the President that the actual 

 result of the deliberations of this commission has been such as to 

 require from this Government the course of observation upon the 

 same, which it becomes my duty to submit to the consideration of 

 Her Majesty's Government. For reasons of paramount importance 

 to the interests of the two countries, in their future treatment of the 

 subject of the fisheries, a candid statement of the views of this Gov- 

 ernment, as to the position in which the action of the commission has 

 placed those interests, is due alike to the British Government and 

 ourselves. Nor are these views expressive only of the sentiments of 

 the executive department of the Government. Upon the papers 

 being laid before Congress for its necessary action, upon the question 

 of making an appropriation from the Treasury to meet what should 

 prove to be the proper obligations of the Government under the 

 treaty, Congress, with great unanimity, concurred with the ex- 

 1379 ecutive in the opinion that the attention of the British Gov- 

 ernment should be invited to the subject of the award, as looked 

 upon by this Government : in advance of the final action of the 

 executive in reference to its payment. Accordingly the sum ap- 

 propriated by Congress to meet the award is, by the "Appropriation 

 Act ". " placed under the direction of the President of the United 

 States with which to pay the Government of Her Britannic Majesty 

 the amount awarded Dy the Fisheries Commission lately assembled 

 at Halifax, in pursuance of the Treaty of Washington, if, after cor- 

 respondence with the British Government on the subject of the con- 

 formity of the award to the requirements of the treaty, and to the 

 terms of the question thereby submitted to the commission, the Presi- 

 rent shall deem it his duty to make the payment without further 

 communication with Congress." 

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