172 WITH MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE 



MR. WIMAN'S FELICITOUS GREETING 



The President in his introductory speech com- 

 mented on the significance and interest of the 

 occasion, and proceeded to refer to the Fisheries 

 question in a tone marked by moderation and by a 

 desire to urge the promotion of good feeling on 

 both sides. He spoke in terms of praise of the work 

 of the Commissioners, and urged the advantage of a 

 policy that might be called one of " bear and for- 

 bear " between two such nations as the British and 

 the American. Said he : 



A settlement was most ardently desired : a good 

 and honest and well-equipped body of men have 

 earnestly and laboriously sought the grounds for 

 that settlement. By mutual concession, and by 

 mutually yielding important points, this ground has 

 been discovered, and the result is in the main about 

 as much as could be achieved under all circum- 

 stances. At any rate, it is significant testimony on 

 behalf of the Treaty that the extremists on both 

 sides are disappointed, and bitterly assail each 

 other for the advantages gained. (Applause.) On 

 the middle ground between these two extremes 

 seems the only tenable position of safety, and on 

 that ground the Commission and the Treaty stand. 

 Certainly the great mass of the public are eager for a 

 settlement, and if the Treaty is not confirmed, it will 

 not be because there is not an overwhelming majority 

 on both sides of the line who would like to see it 

 made effective, and the whole question dead and 

 buried and for ever out of sight. (Applause.) 



