PERIOD FROM 1811 TO 1905. 733 



Sir E. Thornton to Earl Granville. 



[Telegraphic.] 



WASHINGTON, March 31, 1881. 



(Received March 31.) 



Mr. Blaine anxiously awaits an answer from the United States' 

 Minister in London with respect to his request that Fortune Bay 

 claims should be referred to him and myself. 



Earl Granville to Sir E. Thornton. 



FOREIGN OFFICE, April 2, 1881. 



SIR, I have received your telegram of the 31st ultimo, in which you 

 inform me that Mr. Blaine is extremely anxious to learn whether 

 Her Majesty's Government are prepared to accede to his request that 

 the claims connected with the Fortune Bay dispute should be settled 

 at Washington between himself and Her Majesty's Minister. 



I have to state to you, in reply, that should there be any misunder- 

 standing with regard to Mr. Elaine's meaning in pressing this mode 

 of settlement, it is desirable that it should be made clear. If, how- 

 ever, he is ready to agree that the claims of the American fishermen 

 should be referred to himself and yourself, or to Delegates to be 

 named by both, for assessment, Her Majesty's Government are pre- 

 pared to accept this arrangement at once. 



This mode of proceeding is now preferred by the Colonial authori- 

 ties in this country to the payment of a lump sum, in view of the 

 desirability of obtaining the co-operation and concurrence of the 

 Government of Newfoundland. 



I should be glad to learn whether anything has passed between 

 Mr. Blaine and yourself with regard to a reference to a third party 

 in case it should be found impossible to come to an agreement between 

 yourselves, or that the same difficulty should occur in the case of the 

 Delegates. 



Her Majesty's Government do not wish to raise any difficulties, 

 and they give you full discretion to arrive at the best solution you can 

 make with the Secretary of State, either as regards an assessment of 

 the claims, or the payment by Her Majesty's Government of a lump 

 sum. Under present circumstances they would prefer an arrange- 

 ment by assessment. 



I need not remind you how desirable it is, in view of the approach 

 of the fishing season, that a settlement of these claims should be 

 arrived at as speedily as possible, and also an understanding with 

 regard to the Regulations to be framed for the fisheries, with a view 

 to the prevention of future misunderstandings. 

 I am, &c. 



.(Signed) GRANVILLE. 



