PERIOD FROM 1854 TO 1871. 137 



izing him to accept this proposal on certain conditions, whicli he 

 stated as follows: 



Her Majesty's Government understand that ''the southern coast 

 of Newfoundland, which extends from Cape Ray to the Rameau 

 Islands;" "the western and northern coasts of Newfoundland, fTom 

 the said Cape Ray to the Quirpon Islands;" "the shores of the Mag- 

 dalen Islands;" "the coasts, bays, harbours, and creeks horn. Mount 

 Joly, on the southern coast of Labrador, to and through the straits of 

 Belle Isle, and thence northwardly, indefinitely, along the coast;" 

 and also "the unsettled bays, harbours, and creeks of the southern 

 part of the coast of Newfoundland hereabove described, and of the 

 coast of Labrador" will be excluded from the operations of the Com- 

 mission, whose duty w^ill therefore be confined to ascertaining what 

 is the real extent and meaning of the renunciation, on the part of 

 the United States, "to take, dry, or cure fish on or ^vitllin three 

 marine miles of any of the coasts, bays, creeks, or harbours of His 

 Britannic Majesty's dominions in America not included within the 

 above-mentioned limits;" and, ha^-ing ascertained these points, then 

 to lay down regulations under which United States' fishermen may be 

 "admitted to enter such bays or harbours for the purpose of shelter 

 and repairing damages therein, of purchasing wood, and of obtaining 

 water;" and to agree upon a system of pohce for enforcing the con- 

 clusions at which the Commission may arrive. 



If I have correctly described the object of the United States in the 

 present proposal, Her Majest3^'s Government will readily accede to it, 

 and will cordially co-operate in removing a source of much irritation 

 between the subjects and citizens of the two countries. 



In any case, however, Her Majesty's Government would reserve, 

 as that of the United States are also prepared for themselves to 

 reserve, the right of considering the recommendations of the Joint 

 Commission, before they can finally be held binding on the two Gov- 

 ernments; and Her ^lajesty's Government would hold themselves 

 entitled to maintain, pending the determination of the questions to 

 be discussed, the principle for which they have heretofore contended, 

 and to enforce all regulations and assert all rights which previously 

 to the conclusions of the Reciprocity Treat}^, the British Government 

 asserted and enforced. Therefore, if the purport of the concluding 

 paragraph of Mr. Adams' paper is meant by the L^nited States to 

 involve an obligation on the part of Her Majesty's Government to 

 continue to allow, during the sitting of the Commission, fishermen of 

 the United States to enjoy in British waters the privileges under the 

 Reciprocity Treaty which the Government of the Laiited States have 

 now renounced for their citizens, you vrill frankly state to ^Ir. Seward 

 that into such an engagement Her Majesty's Government cannot 

 enter. 



Her Majesty's Government are most desirous that the rights of the 

 Colonies should be so enforced as to give the least possible occasion 

 for complaint or discussion. They have cordially approved, and 

 have recommended to the Governments of the other British Provinces, 

 a proposal made by the authorities of Canada, that American fisher- 

 men should for the present season be allowed to enjoy, under special 

 licenses, the benefits conferred by the Reciprocity Treaty, and they 



