4 WITH MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE 



tries, and any untoward incident, such as the loss of 

 a life where resistance was offered, would have 

 ignited a spark that might have led to a conflagra- 

 tion. Both countries recognised that a situation had 

 been reached when no effort should be spared to 

 effect a friendly settlement. So it came about, 

 after some further diplomatic correspondence, that 

 on October 24, 1887, Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, Sir 

 Lionel Sackville West (then British Minister at 

 Washington), and Sir Charles Tupper (Canadian 

 Minister of Finance), were jointly and severally 

 empowered by Queen Victoria to consider and 

 adjust "in a friendly spirit with Plenipotentiaries 

 to be appointed on the part of our good friends the 

 United States of America all or any questions re- 

 lating to the rights of fishery in the seas adjacent to 

 British North America and Newfoundland which 

 are in dispute between our Government and that of 

 our good friends, and any other questions which 

 may arise which the respective Plenipotentiaries may 

 be authorised by their Governments to consider 

 and adjust." 



Mr. Chamberlain's appointment having been 

 settled, the next question for consideration was who 

 should be attached to his Mission. It was obvious 

 that the late Sir Henry Bergne was the man of all 



