PERIOD FROM 1888 TO 1909. 207 



The Newfoundland controversy. 



In 1905, however, the Newfoundland Government completely 

 reversed its former attitude toward American fishing interests and 

 undertook by legislative and administrative action to terminate all 

 the commercial privileges, which for many years prior to that time 

 had been extended to American fishing vessels both on the treaty 

 coasts and on the other coasts of Newfoundland. The admitted 

 purpose of this new policy of the Newfoundland Government was 

 to compel the American Government to open the American mar- 

 kets to Newfoundland fish and fish products free of duty in exchange 

 for more extensive fishing and commercial privileges; and it soon 

 became evident that in furtherance of this plan the Newfoundland 

 Government was likely to attempt to impose certain limitations 

 and restraints upon the American fishermen in the enjoyment of 

 the fishing liberties secured to them under the treaty of 1818 upon 

 the treaty coasts of Newfoundland. 



As a result of this situation the Government of the United States 

 at once proceeded to take up with Great Britain the question of 

 protecting the rights of American fishermen on the treaty coasts of 

 Newfoundland under the treaty of 1818, which were threatened by 

 the attitude of the Newfoundland Government, 



In October, 1905, it was reported to the Secretary of State that 

 the Newfoundland Minister of ]\Iarine and Fisheries ' ' has forbidden 

 all vessels on American registry to fish on treaty coast, where they 

 now are, and where they have fished unmolested since 1818." Mr. 

 Root, the Secretary of State, promptly called this report to the 

 attention of the British Ambassador at Washington, Sir H. M. 

 Durand, in his note of October 12, 1905*^; and in reply the British 

 Ambassador, by note of October 19, 1905'', informed the Secretary 

 of State that the report was without foundation and that the New- 

 foundland Minister had exercised no interference whatever with such 

 vessels. Meanwhile, however, it having been reported, as a result 

 of inquiries as to the precise difficulty on the Newfoundland coast, 

 that the captain of one American vessel had been informed by an 

 inspector of the Revenue Protection Service of Newfoundland that 

 he could not fish there, and that several others had been ordered not 



a Appendix, p. 964. 6 Appendix, p. 965. 



