PEEIOD FROM 1811 TO 1905. 731 



had puzzled him in Sir Edward Thornton's dispatch. The result of 

 our conversation I have already forwarded by cable. I have nothing 

 of importance to add except that I insisted that up to the 26th of 

 February my distinct understanding was that the 15,000 were 

 offered for Fortune Bay claims and the two in your No. 109. 



I omitted to mention in my former dispatch that Lord Granville, 

 at one of our earlier interviews, wished me to inquire whether my 

 government, in case it should become necessary, as suggested in your 

 No. 109, to take measures for the protection of our fishermen, would 

 have any objection to the sending of joint cruisers with joint orders. 

 I have already stated this in my last telegram. 

 I have, &c. 



J. R. LOWELL. 



Mr. Elaine to Mr. Lowell. 



[Telegram.] 



WASHINGTON, March 14, 1881. 



Inform Lord Granville that his proposition to refer the matter to 

 Sir Edward Thornton and myself is accepted. The subject of joint 

 cruisers may be postponed, or, if desired, may also be referred to Sir 

 Edward and myself to be taken up afterwards with power to agree 

 upon a series of regulations under which treaty rights may be mu- 

 tually secured. 



ELAINE. 



Sir E. Thornton to Earl Granville. 



[Substance received by telegraph, March 12.] 

 [Extract] 



WASHINGTON, March 14, 1881. 



I have the honour to inform your Lordship that, on Mr. Elaine's 

 invitation, I called upon him at the State Department on the 12th 

 instant, for the purpose of conferring with him upon the proposed 

 settlement of the Fortune Bay and other claims of American fisher- 

 men. 



Mr. Elaine said that, after due reflection, he had come to the con- 

 clusion that the discussion of the matter could be carried on more' 

 satisfactorily here than in London. He adverted to the position 

 which had been taken by his predecessor, and pointed out that, as 

 Mr. Evarts had declined to give the full assurance required by your 

 Lordship on the receipt of 15,OOOZ. from Her Majesty's Government, 

 he did not think it was in his power at once to agree to the same 

 terms without at least making further inquiries as to the existence of 

 other claims. Upon my observing that your Lordship had since then 

 offered to substitue the phrase " up to the end of last year " for " up 

 to the present time," Mr. Elaine said that, though this made a slight 

 alteration in the wording, the substance of the assurance to be given 

 was the same, for that it was hardly to be supposed that any claims 



