PERIOD FROM 1871 TO 1905. 907 



offense had been unintentionally committed. In support of this vievf 

 I would draw your attention to the letter (see inclosure to my dis- 

 patch of 29th November) of Mr. Phelan, the consul-general of the 

 United States at Halifax, who has expressed his own satisfaction at 

 the action of the authorities in the case of the Pearl Nelson and who 

 also refers to a communication received by him from the Department 

 of State, in which it is stated that the conduct of the assistant com- 

 missioner of customs in dealing with two other cases of a somewhat 

 similar complexion " shows a proper spirit." 



I have, etc., LANSDOWNE. 



Mr. Bayard to Mr. Phelps. 



No. 528.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 



Washington, February 1, 1887. 



SIR : I received on the 29th ultimo a reply from the British minis- 

 ter at this capital to my notes to him on the 19th and 20th of October 

 last, relative to the cases of the American fishing vessels Pearl Nelson 

 and Everett Steele. 



The note of Sir Lionel West serves only to inclose the communica- 

 tion of the Marquis of Lansdowne to Mr. Stanhope. Whilst the letter 

 of Lord Lansdowne proceeds upon the assumption of grounds never 

 accepted by this Government as the basis of discussion of the rights 

 of our fishermen, and fails to admit the obvious and essential right 

 of American fishermen to resort for purposes not abusive of the an- 

 cient privileges guaranteed by the treaty of 1818, in the Canadian 

 bays and harbors, yet I am glad to see that the tone of his discussion 

 indicates the growth of a disposition to consider the case of the Amer- 

 ican fishermen in a more friendly light than heretofore in the discus- 

 sions of the past season. 



The letters will be communicated to Congress as supplementary to 

 the information heretofore laid before them by the President. 

 I am, etc., 



T. F. BAYARD. 



Mr. Bayard to Mr. Phelps. 



No. 536.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 



Washington, February 8, 1887. 



SIR : I have to acknowledge your dispatch of the 27th ultimo, No. 

 423, which was accompanied by a copy of the note to you of the late 

 Lord Iddesleigh, under date of December 16, 1886, and also one from 

 Sir Julian Pauncefote, dated January 14, 1887, and also a copy of 

 your note to the Marquis of Salisbury under date of January 26 

 ultimo. 



I desire to express my entire satisfaction with the position correctly 

 assumed and admirably and logically sustained by you in this relation. 



Your telegrams of the 5th instant and of yesterday, with reference 

 to the same question, have been received. 



