PERIOD PROM 1811 TO 1905. 775 



held liable for all losses and injuries to citizens of the United States 

 and their property caused by the unauthorized and unfriendly action 

 of the Canadian officials to which I have referred. 

 I have, &c., 



T. F. BAYARD. 



Mr. Bayard to Mr. Phelps. 



[Telegraphic.] 



WASHINGTON, May 30, 1886. 



Call attention of Lord Eosebery immediately to Bill now pending 

 in the Parliament of Canada, assuming to execute Treaty of 1818; 

 also Circular by Johnson, Commissioner of Customs ordering seizure 

 of vessels for violation of Treaty. Both are arbitrary and unwar- 

 ranted assumptions of power against which you are instructed 

 earnestly to protest, and state that the United States will hold Gov- 

 ernment of Great Britain responsible for all losses which may be 

 sustained by American citizens in the dispossession of their property 

 growing out of the search, seizure, detention, or sale of their vessels 

 lawfully within territorial waters of British North America. 



Mr. Phelps to the Earl of Rosebery. 



LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, 

 London, June 1, 1886. (Received June 1.) 



My LORD, I have the honour to enclose for your perusal, a copy of 

 the translation of a cypher telegram which I have just received from 

 the Secretary of State of the United States, and respectfully to 

 ask your early attention to the subject it refers to. 



I shall have the honor to submit to your Lordship in writing, in 

 behalf of my Government, within two or three days, some observa- 

 tions on the questions involved. 

 I have, &c., 



E. J. PHELPS. 

 The EARL OF ROSEBERY. 



Mr. Bayard to Mr. Phelps. 



No. 310.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 



Washington, June 1, 1886. 



SIR : With reference to my instructions No. 289, of the llth ultimo, 

 and No. 303, of the same month, transmitting to you for your in- 

 formation copies of my recent notes to Sir Lionel West concerning 

 the fisheries question, I now inclose herewith for your further in- 

 formation two copies of a note which I addressed on the 29th ultimo 

 to Her Britannic Majesty's minister at this capital in relation to 



