[Inclosure.] The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Treasury. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 25, 1905. SIR: The immediate difficulty experienced by the American fishing fleet on the treaty coast of Newfoundland appears to have been happily disposed of. There are, however, some other questions bearing upon the relations between the recent legislation of Newfoundland and American rights under the treaty of 1818 with Great Britain from which, in default of a clear understanding, further difficulties may possibly arise. These questions are now under consideration by the two governments with a confident expectation of reaching a satisfactory conclusion. In the meantime I wish to bring to the attention of our American fishermen some expressions contained in a recent letter received by me from the British ambassador. He says: "I note with satisfaction that the Government of the United States will do everything in their power, as we on our side shall certainly do, to prevent any collision between American fishermen and those of Newfoundland, and I trust that they will also do everything in their power to prevent the occurrence of any other untoward incident pending inquiry into the question of the Newfoundland 'act respecting foreign fishing vessels,' and the supposed misapprehension on the part of certain Newfoundland officials with regard to the status of vessels on the American register. "The Government of the United States can not doubt the desire of His Majesty's Government to adhere strictly to all treaty provisions, and all that seems required in order to bring about a satisfactory conclusion in a case of this nature is the exercise by those concerned on both sides of patience and temper in the assertion of what they conceive to be their rights. It would be most unfortunate if the case were to be complicated by any precipitate action on the part of American fishermen or local officials. I will do all I can to prevent such action on the part of the local officials and look to you with confidence to prevent it on the part of the American fishermen." We can not fail to agree heartily with the spirit and purpose thus expressed by the British ambassador. I am sure that knowledge of the fact that the Government of Great Britain is dealing with the subject in this spirit will lead all American fishermen to exercise under all circumstances the patience and good temper which the ambassador justly deems so impor tant. May I ask that you will communicate the contents of this letter to the collector of the port of Gloucester with the request that he bring it to the notice of the owners and masters of the American fishing fleet, so largely owned at that port? (Mr. Reid reports that the minister for foreign affairs has reiterated his earnest desire to adjust the fishery question satisfactorily. He has consulted with the secretary of state for the colonies and law officers on the six points of agreement proposed by the Department to the British ambassador at Washington. A dispacth received by him yesterday from the governor of Newfoundland gives positive assurances that no arrests will be made on American vessels and that his action will be confined to his own people. Confidence of friendly adjustment of the question is expressed if the impetuosity of the people on the spot can be restrained during the remainder of the fishing season. Reports the publication of a telegram of Reuter's agency from St. Johns which states that American fishing vessels attempted to enlist 50 men by taking them outside of the 3-mile limit, that the men were sent back by a colonial cruiser, and that threats had been made by the Americans to appeal for a war vessel.) The Secretary of State to Ambassador Reid. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Say to British Government that I have advised Secretary Commerce and Labor to inform American fishermen this government will not support evasion of Newfoundland law by taking men across 3-mile line for enlistment and bringing them back, as described in the Reuter's dispatch reported by you November 3. Chargé Carter to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] ROOT. AMERICAN EMBASSY. (Mr. Carter reports that according to information received by the British Government platforms are being constructed by American fishermen for freezing herring on the shore of the Bay of Islands on the west coast of Newfoundland. Article 1 of the treaty of 1818 has been pointed out by Sir Edward Grey as limiting American fishermen to that part of the Newfoundland coast lying between Cape Ray and Rameau Islands, and that the United States renounced any liberty to take, dry, or cure fish on or within 3 marine miles of any coast, creeks, bays, or harbors not included within above-mentioned limits. He calls attention to the matter and expresses the hope that the Government of the United States will instruct the American fishermen to refrain from any act contrary to treaty rights.) The Secretary of State to Chargé Carter. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, (Mr. Root instructs Mr. Carter to inform Sir Edward Grey that the Secretary of Commerce and Labor has been advised that American fishermen have no right to construct platforms for freezing fish on the west coast of Newfoundland, and that in all probability our fishermen have already been instructed accordingly. The Department is informed that the cutting of American nets has been commenced to prevent American fishing, as was done in the Fortune Bay affair. Instructs him to request that suitable measures be taken to prevent unlawful interference by natives.) 1 No. 107.j Chargé Carter to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, London, December 16, 1905. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a translation of my cable of this date with reference to the Newfoundland fisheries question, and also a copy of the memorandum upon which it was based. I was sent for yesterday by Sir Edward Grey to come and see him at the foreign office, where, through Mr. Villiers, one of the under secretaries, he communicated to me the substance of the above-mentioned memorandum, at the same time stating in the most friendly spirit that although convinced that the present incident, which might not seem important in itself and probably occurred owing to ignorance or misapprehension of the terms of the convention of 1818 on the part of those engaged, under the present circumstances he considered it necessary to call your attention to the matter, hoping you would receive it in the spirit it was offered, and would be disposed to cause the American fishermen to be instructed to desist from this action, which he submitted was clearly in excess of their treaty rights. I have, etc., [Inclosure.] Memorandum. JOHN RIDGELY CARTER. FOREIGN OFFICE, London, December 16, 1905. His Majesty's Government have received information that United States fishermen are constructing platforms for freezing herring on the shore of Bay of Islands on the west coast of Newfoundland. Article I of the convention of 1818 between Great Britain and the United States stipulated that American fisherman shall "have liberty, forever, to dry and cure fish in any of the unsettled bays, harbors, and creeks of the southern part of the coast of Newfoundland" described previously in the same article as the part of the coast between Cape Ray and the Rameau Islands; but that "the United States hereby renounce, forever, any liberty heretofore enjoyed or claimed by the inhabitants thereof to take, dry, or cure fish on or within three marine miles of any of the coasts, bays, creeks, or harbors of His Britanic Majesty's dominions in America not included within the above-mentioned limits." The incident now reported has probably occurred owing to ignorance or misapprehension of the terms of the convention. His Majesty's Government consider it necessary, however, to call attention to the matter and to express the hope that the American fishermen may be instructed to desist from action which is clearly in excess of their treaty rights. Chargé Carter to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, London, December 18, 1905. (Mr. Carter conveys the thanks of Sir Edward Grey for the prompt action of the Department in regard to the matter reported in his telegram of the 16th instant. Equal prompt consideration will be given. to Department's recommendation regarding the cutting of nets.) Chargé Carter to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, London, December 28, 1905. (Mr. Carter reports that Sir Edward Grey is informed by the governor of Newfoundland that the rumor that American fishing nets and tackle had been maliciously interferred with is unfounded. The inspector who had been sent to investigate the matter reports that no willful detachment of nets and tackle has taken place, and that no complaints of willful damage have been made to the magistrate at Bonne Bay, and that no antagonistic feeling exists between the citizens of the two countries.) No. 118.] Chargé Carter to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, London, December 29, 1905. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a translation of my cablegram of the 28th instant and also a copy of a memorandum handed me by Sir Edward Grey in reply to my note of the 18th instant, all in connection with the Newfoundland fisheries question. From the memorandum in question it will be seen that Mr. O'Reilly, the inspector of the Newfoundland customs, who had spent ten days among the fishing smacks at Bay of Islands, reported that though fishing nets and tackle had been lost through stress of weather no willful destruction of any kind had taken place, and that on the contrary the fishermen were all quiet and on friendly terms and in fact no antagonistic feeling whatever existed between the Newfoundlanders and the American fishermen. I have, etc., [Inclosure.] Memorandum. JOHN RIDGELY CARTER. FOREIGN OFFICE, London, December 27, 1905. His Majesty's Government have received by telegraph from Sir W. MacGregor, the gov ernor of Newfoundland, a reply to their inquiry concerning the complaint that American fishing nets and fishing tackle had been maliciously damaged or interfered with by Newfoundland fishermen. His excellency states that he is able emphatically to contradict this rumor. Inspector O'Reilly, who had spent ten days among the fishing smacks at Bay of Islands, reported tha though fishing nets and tackle had been lost through stress of weather or inexperience, no willful destruction of any kind had taken place. On the contrary, the fishermen were al quiet and on friendly terms. The magistrate at Bonne Bay reported that he had received no complaints and that he was unaware of any willful damage having been inflicted. Sir W. MacGregor's statement is corroborated by the officer commanding His Majesty's ship Latona, who reports that after a gale at the beginning of December rumors of willful damage had been spread. Investigations had, however, resulted in eliciting the fact that many nets had, owing to the gale, been dragged and fouled and in some cases had been cut to clear them. This was due in some measure to the inexperience of the United States fisher men, who were unaccustomed to the herring fishery. There was no antagonistic feeling whatever between the subjects of the respective countries. NOTE-To be continued in Foreign Relations, 1906. BOYCOTT OF AMERICAN GOODS AT SINGAPORE. The Secretary of State to Ambassador Reid. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 14, 1905. (Mr. Root informs Mr. Reid that the consul-general at Singapore reports that the boycott has taken a serious turn, that the Chinese trade is at a standstill, that circulars are posted on all Chinese shops, that anonymous warning letters are being circulated and he fears that the trouble has only begun. He has been instructed to give information of anonymous threats and unlawful combinations to the local authorities. Mr. Reid is instructed to request that the British Government take the gravity of the situation into consideration and adopt such protective and repressive measures as may be practicable.) Ambassador Reid to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, London, November 15, 1905. (Mr. Reid reports that Lord Lansdowne has promised him that he will immediately communicate with the colonial department and do everything possible.) No. 103.] Chargé Carter to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, London, December 13, 1905. SIR: With reference to your telegram to Mr. Reid of the 15th ultimo with regard to the boycott of American goods by the Chinese at Singapore I have the honor to inclose a translation of your cable, together with Mr. Reid's reply thereto of the same date, and also a copy of the memorandum left at the foreign office, and a copy of Lord Lansdowne's note of the 8th in reply. From the latter it will be seen that Mr. Lyttelton, the secretary of state for the colonies, will forward a copy of the correspondence on the subject to Sir J. Anderson, the governor of the Straits Settlements, who, it is stated, will doubtless take such measures as may be prac ticable to deal with any unlawful acts or combinations on the part of those concerned in the proceedings complained of. Mr. Lyttelton, however, points out that unless actual offenses against the colonial laws have been or are being committed it may be difficult for the colonial authorities to take any effective action in the JOHN RIDGELY CARTER. matter. I have, etc., |