

PERIOD FROM 1871 TO 1905. 711 



Foreign Affairs, by which I understand that it has m.l yet been taken 

 into consideration. 



Earl Granville to Sir E. Thornton. 



FOREIGN OFFICE, June 9, 1880. 



SIR: I had to-day an interview with the United States' Minister 

 at this Court respecting the Fortune Bay affair. 



Mr. Lowell stated that there was a much stronger and deeper feel- 

 ing on the other side of the Atlantic upon this question than was 

 appreciated here. There was, he said, a feeling that a wrong had 

 been done which ought to be redressed. 



We agreed that this was a reason why both Governments should 

 try to settle the question. 



I observed that the present Government had not their reputation 

 to make as to a wish to act in a conciliatory manner towards the 

 United States, but that we could make no concession which could not 

 be made with perfect justification. 



I then asked Mr. Lowell whether he had any suggestions to make. 

 He replied, " none ; " that his instructions were to conform his lan- 

 guage to that of Mr. Evarts' note. I inquired whether it would not 

 be possible to separate the two questions of the interpretation of the 

 Treaty and of the attack upon the American fishermen. He replied 

 that he feared it might be too late to do this, but that, at my request, 

 he would be prepared to ask the question. 



Mr. Lowell added, not officially, but only as his personal opinion, 

 that there would be no precipitate action on the part of the United 

 States. The President, he said, had power to act, but the moment for 

 doing so was at his own discretion. 



We finally agreed to renew our conversation upon this subject at 

 an early date. 



I am, &c. (Signed) GRANVILLE. 



Mr. Lowell to Earl Granville. 



UNITED STATES' LEGATION, 



London, June 12, 1880. 



(Received June 12.) 



MY LORD: Referring to my conversation with your Lordship on 

 the 9th instant, I have the honour to acquaint you that I took pleas- 

 ure in communicating by cable the next day to my Government the 

 friendly sentiments of your Lordship in respect to the differences 

 between the two countries on the Fishery question. 



I have this morning received a telegram from Mr. Evarts, by which 

 he desires me to communicate his great gratification at the expres- 

 sion by your Lordship of the friendly disposition of the British 

 Cabinet, a disposition which, he states, he should have been ready to 

 assume from the public character of its members. He adds that" the 

 President will be quite ready to entertain any considerations which 

 may be presented to the Secretary of State to relieve the question of 



