PEKIOI> FROM 1905 TO 1909. 987 



with disturbances at Fortune Bay. Light dues were presumably not 

 levied in 1818, seines were apparently in use, the prohibition of 

 Sunday fishing had been abolished in 1776 (see 15 George III, cap. 

 31), and fishing-ships were exempted from entry at Custom-house, 

 and required only to make a report on first arrival and on clearing 

 (see same Act). United States' vessels could, on the basis of the 

 status quo in 1818, only be asked to make report at custom-house on 

 arrival and on clearing. 



It is clear that with such a wide divergence of view between the 

 two Governments no immediate settlement of questions involved is 

 possible, and His Majesty's Government are of opinion that any 

 attempt on part of your Government to apply to American fishermen 

 the Regulations to which exception is taken by the United States' 

 Government while the discussion of the questions is proceeding be- 

 tween the two Governments might give rise to a highly undesirable 

 and even dangerous situation, and that it is therefore essential that 

 some Provisional Arrangement should be made to secure the peace- 

 able conduct of the coming fishery. His Majesty's Government are 

 therefore informing United States' Government that they are pre- 

 pared, pending the further discussion of questions at issue and without 

 prejudice to such discussion, to negotiate a Provisional Arrangement 

 which will enable the ensuing fishery to be carried on in good order 

 and friendship, and that they will shortly submit proposals with that 

 object. Please report whether your Ministers have any suggestions 

 to offer as to the nature of that Arrangement. It seems to be certain 

 that if your Ministers press for prohibition both of seines and of 

 Sunday fishing some concessions other than exemption from light 

 dues and Customs law will be expected. Can any such concessions 

 be offered? If not, there is little prospect that both points will be 

 conceded by United States, and as greater possibility of disorder is 

 understood to be attached to Sunday fishing, it would seem better to 

 try and obtain assent of United States to prohibition of this practice 

 in return for use of seines. Have your Ministers any observations as 

 to any fair and reasonable limitations or conditions to be imposed on 

 use of seines if this course is adopted ? Telegraph reply immediately. 



Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Reid. 



FOREIGN OFFICE, August 14, 1906. 



YOUR EXCELLENCY: The note which you were so good as to 

 address to me on the 20th ultimo, forwarding a letter from Mr. 

 Secretary Root respecting the rights of American fishing-vessels on 

 the Newfoundland coast, is receiving the careful consideration of 

 His Majesty's Government, and they have observed with much 

 regret that the wide divergence of views between the two Govern- 

 ments which is disclosed by the correspondence makes it hopeless 

 to expect an immediate settlement of the various questions at issue. 



Pending the further discussion of these questions, however, and 

 without prejudice to it, His Majesty's Government are prepared, in 

 accordance with the suggestion made in Mr. Root's letter, to confer 

 with the United States' Government, with a view to some arrange- 

 ment which will secure the peaceable and orderly conduct of the 



