942 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



Mr. Bayard to Sir Charles Tupper. 



[Personal and unofficial.] 



WASHINGTON, D. C., May 31, 1S87. 

 MY DEAR SIR CHARLES: 



The delay in writing you has been unavoidable. 



In the very short interview afforded by your visit I referred to the 

 embarrassment arising out of the gradual emancipation of Canada 

 from the control of the mother country, and the consequent assump- 

 tion by that community of attributes of autonomous and separate 

 sovereignty, not, however, distinct from the Empire of Great Britain. 



The awkwardness of this imperfectly-developed sovereignty is felt 

 most strongly by the United States, which can not have formal treaty 

 relations with Canada, except indirectly and as a colonial dependency 

 of the British Crown, and nothing could better illustrate the embar- 

 rassment arising from this amorphous condition of things than the 

 volumes of correspondence published severally this year, relating to 

 the fisheries, by the United States, Great Britain, and the Govern- 

 ment of the Dominion. 



The time lost in this circumlocution, although often most regret- 

 table, was the least part of the difficulty, and the indirectness of 

 appeal and reply was the most serious feature, ending, as it did, very 

 unsatisfactorily. 



It is evident that the commercial intercourse between the inhab- 

 itants of Canada and those of the United States has grown into too 

 vast "proportions to be exposed much longer to this wordy triangular 

 duel, and more direct and responsible methods should be resorted to. 



Your own able, earnest, and patriotic services in the Government 

 and Parliament of the Dominion are well known, and afford ample 

 proof of your comprehension of the resources, rapidly-increasing in- 

 terests, and needs of British North America. 



On the other hand, I believe I am animated by an equal desire to 

 serve my own country, and trust to do it worthily. 



The immediate difficulty to be settled is found in the treaty of 1818 

 between the United States and Great Britain, which has been questio 

 vexata ever since it was concluded, and to-day is suffered to interfere 

 with and seriously embarrass the good understanding of both countries 

 in the important commercial relations and interests which have come 

 into being since its ratification, and for the adjustment of which it 

 is wholly inadequate, as has been unhappily proved by the events of 

 the past two years. 



I am confident we both seek to attain a just and permanent settle- 

 ment, and there is but one way to procure it, and that is by a straight- 

 forward treatment on a liberal and statesman-like plan of the entire 

 commercial relations of the two countries. 



I say commercial, because I do not propose to include, however in- 

 directly, or by any amendment, however partial or oblique, the 

 political relations of Canada and the United States, nor to affect the 

 legislative independence of either country. 



When you were here I was prepared to send my reply to the " Ob- 

 servations" upon my proposal for a settlement (of November 15 

 last), which were communicated to Mr, Phelps by Lord Salisbury 



