PERIOD PROM 1905 TO 1909. 971 



action on the part of the local officials and look to you with confidence 

 to prevent it on the part of the American fishermen. 



H. M. DURAND. 



Mr. Root to Sir H. M. Durand. 



DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 

 Washington, October 20, 1905. 



MY DEAR SIR MORTIMER: I have received from the Secretary of 

 Commerce and Labor a letter received by him from the agent on the 

 Grampus, the Fish Commission boat on the Newfoundland coast, 

 which contains the following: 



" No obstacles placed in the way of American vessels sailing from 

 home port under fishing license to taking herring on treaty coast. 

 Government officials here state that vessels under register not permit- 

 ted to take herring." 



It would appear from this that the trouble is, as I had already 

 gathered from the telegrams of the various ships' captains, in the 

 making of the distinction by the subordinate Newfoundland officials 

 between registered and licensed vessels. 



Can not the Newfoundland Government be advised that they are 

 entitled to make no such distinction? 



Faithfully, yours, ELIHU ROOT. 



Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Whitelaw Reid. 



FOREIGN OFFICE, February 2, 1906. 



YOUR EXCELLENCY: The views of the United States' Government 

 with respect to the position of affairs on the coast of Newfoundland, 

 and to the rights of American fishing-vessels in those waters under 

 the Treaty of the 20th October, 1818, as set forth in Mr. Root's, note 

 to His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington of the 19th October, 

 1905, have received the serious attention of His Majesty's Govern- 

 ment. 



I have now the honour to inclose a Memorandum dealing seriatim 

 with the six propositions formulated by Mr. Root, and with his ob- 

 servations with regard to some of the provisions of recent Newfound- 

 land legislation for the regulation of the fisheries. 



As, owing to the prompt measures adopted and to the conciliatory 

 spirit displayed by both Governments, the fishing season has now 

 closed without any collision between the British and American fisher- 

 men, or the development of any such friction as was at one time 

 anticipated, it is unnecessary to deal more particularly with the latter 

 portion of Mr. Root's note, which was devoted to that side of the 

 question. 



I have, &c. (Signed) EDWARD GREY. 



