THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERY QUESTION. 213 



sidiary questions relative to the fisheries on the above-mentioned portion of the coasts 

 of Newfoundland, and upon the text of which the two Governments shall have pre- 

 viously come to an agreement. 

 S- — The Commission of Arbitration shall be composed: 



( I- ) — Of three SpeciaUsts or Jurisconsults designated by common consent by the 



two Governments. 

 (2.) — Of two Delegates of each country, who shall be the authorised channels 

 of communication between the two Governments and the other Arbitrators. 

 6. — The Commission of Arbitration thus formed of seven members shall decide by 

 majority of votes and without appeal. 

 7. — -It shall meet as soon as possible. 



The last published Despatch is addressed by the Marquis of Salis- 

 bury to M. Waddington, which declares that H.M. Government and 

 the Government of the French Republic have designated by common 

 consent the following three Arbitrators : — 



I. — M. de Martens, Professor of International Law, at the Univer- 

 sity of St. Petersburg. 



2. — M. Rivier, Consul General of Switzerland at Brussels, President 

 of the Institute of International Law. 



3. — M. Gram, formerly member of the Supreme Court of Norway. 



For the best interests of the Colony, and the maintenance of the 

 friendly relations of England and France, we cordially desire a satis- 

 factory issue of the labours of this Arbitration, and especially that it 

 may lead up to the settlement of all the diiferences between France 

 and Newfoundland, by a similar reference to Arbitration. 



GENERAL REVIEW OF THE QUESTION. 



In this history of the hitherto unfruitful negotiations that have 

 been so persistently prosecuted, from 1844 to 1891, by the Govern- 

 ments of France and England, to arrive, if possible, at a satisfactory 

 settlement of the intricate questions in dispute between Newfound- 

 land and France, there are two facts which stand out prominently 

 firstly, the resolute efforts, backed by a sincere desire on the part of 

 successive Governments of Great Britain to secure, by diplomatic 

 means, an amicable and solid settlement with France of this New- 

 foundland fishery question ; and on th^ other hand, the opposition, 

 we will not say unjustifiable opposition, but at any rate the persis- 

 tent opposition, with which the people and Parliament of Newfound- 

 land, have on nearly every occasion met the laudable and, so far as 

 we are able to judge, the favourable proposals, recommended by H.M. 

 Government. 



