196 THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERY QUESTION. 



lordship and colleagues devolved the duty of considering the modi- 

 fications proposed in the Convention by the Government of New- 

 foundland. 



On the 14th November, 1885, the Convention containing the 

 modifications proposed by the Newfoundland Government was 

 approved by the joint Commission, and signed by the Commissioners, 

 and was submitted to the respective Governments of Great Britain 

 and France for their ratification. 



The Marquis of Salisbury, H.M. Secretary of State for Foreign 

 Affairs, on the 12th December, 1885, addressed a Despatch to the 

 British Commissioners, Sir Clare Ford and Mr. Pennell, on the 

 subject of the amended Convention signed by them at S. John's, and 

 the following extract from that Despatch may be given, as it conveys 

 in brief terms the views of H.M. Government, prior to the rejection 

 of the Convention by the Legislature of Newfoundland : — 



The controversy between Great Britain and France concerning the Newfoundland 

 fisheries has been carried on for more than 100 years. It may be said, indeed, to 

 date back to a period considerably anterior to the Treaty of Versailles of 1783, by 

 which it was hoped that a lasting solution of the question would have been effected. 

 Differences of opinion arose, however, almost immediately afterwards, with regard to 

 the proper construction of the new Treaty stipulations deaUng with the French 

 rights of fishery, and, as time went on, the question became still further compUcated 

 by the increase of the fixed population on that part of the shore where these privileges 

 were exercised. The matter was first brought before the Foreign Office by a. 

 Despatch from Count Sebastiani to Lord Palmerston in 1836; but formal nego- 

 tiations were not opened till ten years later, in 1846 ; which resulted, eleven years 

 later, in 1857, in the signing of a Convention between England and France, by 

 which it was hoped that all difficulties would be adjusted. But it fell to the ground 

 through the opposition of the Newfoundland Legislature, and attempts of a similar 

 character which were made in 1859-60, 1868, 1874, and i88i, have, for various 

 reasons, proved equally abortive. 



The actual negotiations in which you have recently been engaged have extended 

 over a period of nearly two years, and your labours in connection with this important 

 question having now come to a close, I avail myself of the opportunity to express to 

 you my entire approval of the manner in which you have performed the duties 

 intrusted to you, and my high appreciation of the tact and abiUty you have displayed 

 in the conduct of these long and delicate negotiations. 



I trust that the new " Arrangement " which you have concluded, will be found to 

 afford a practical solution of the many difficulties surrounding the question of the 

 Newfoundland fisheries, and that it will provide a satisfactory means of settlement 

 of the constantly recurring disagreements between British and French subjects 

 in Newfoundland, which have for so many years formed the subject of corres- 

 pondence between the two Governments concerned, whilst at the same time I 

 beheve that it will satisfy the legitimate needs of the inhabitants of the coast of 

 Newfoundland, and allow of the development of the agricultural and mineral 

 resources of the Colony. 



If these anticipations should be realised the object sought by the two countries will 

 have been attained. 



