2IO THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERY QUESTION. 



Accordingly, on the 29th October, the French Minister for Foreign 

 Affairs expressed a wilhngness to come to some agreement with her 

 Majesty's Government, either by Arbitration, or on the basis of the 

 terms of settlement proposed in the rejected Convention of 1885, 

 and the following is an extract from his Excellency's Despatch : 



In view of these various considerations, and notwithstanding the sincere desire of 

 the French Government to prevent difficulties, always regrettable in themselves, they 

 do not feel justified in acceding to the proposals made to therh to exchange their 

 rights either for a money payment or for certain faciUties with regard to the purchase 

 of bait. The Government of the Republic are, however, quite prepared to consider 

 such other conditions of an agreement as may be submitted to them, whether they 

 approximate to the bases of the scheme drawn up in 1885, or whether they contem- 

 plate an eventual resort to Arbitration, in conformity with the preliminary opinions' 

 already exchanged on the subject between the two Governments. 



On the 17th November the Marquis of Salisbury, having had an 

 opportunity of consultation with the Delegates from Newfoundland, 

 again approached the French Government with the following 

 propositions : 



That in consideration of a good Bait Bill, and a sum of money to be afterwards 

 agreed upon, the French Government should abandon all their special lights on the 

 shores or in the territorial waters of Newfoundland, and should also discontinue the 

 practice of giving a bounty on fish not consumed in French territory. 



And on the 29th November, the French Ambassador in London 

 replied that these proposals were not favourably received by the 

 French Government, and Lord Knutsford addressed the Governor of 

 Newfoundland the following Despatch on the subject : 



"In pursuance of the wish of the Delegates from Newfoundland who were lately in 

 England, her Majesty's Government have proposed to the French Government to 

 accept a pecuniary indemnity and a statutory permission to purchase bait as a con- 

 sideration for renouncing their alleged rights upon the coast and territorial waters of 

 Newfoundland, and abolishing the bounty upon all fish not consumed in French 

 dominions. These proposals have not been accepted. The Government of France 

 intimate that for the settlement of the question they are willing to proceed either by 

 agreement on the lines of the Convention of 1885, or by Arbitration. Her Majesty's 

 Government are willing to take whichever of these courses may be preferred by the 

 colony. But either course will probably occupy a considerable time. An agreement 

 requires lengthened negotiation, and unless a very large discretion indeed is given to 

 the Arbitrator, the preparations for submission to Arbitration must be lengthy. A 

 renewal of the modus viveiidi so as to give time for further action is therefore indis- 

 pensable. But after what has taken place, to renew it would he ifseless, unless 

 statutory force is given to its provisions. I very earnestly press upon your Govern- 

 ment to procure the necessary legislation ; the power of her Majesty's Government 

 to bring this controversy to a satisfactory conclusion will be seriously diminished by 

 a refusal." 



