HC Deb 09 December 1878 vol 243 cc305-6
MR. GOURLEY

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he has received from the United States Government the amount awarded by a majority of the Halifax Commissioners, under Clause 18 of the Treaty of Washington; if so, how he intends disposing of the amount; whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to re-consider the circumstances under which the Award was obtained with a view to the reduction of the amount; and, if he is prepared to state how far the fishermen of Newfoundland exceeded their rights in interfering with United States fishermen when fishing and drying their nets on a Sunday?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER,

in reply, said, that the amount of the Halifax Award—namely, $5,500,000 —was paid by the Government of the United States to Her Majesty's Government on the 21st of November last, and was now being disposed of between Newfoundland and the Dominion of Canada. It would be seen, by the Papers published in The London Gazette, and since presented to Parliament, that Her Majesty' s Government had no intention of re-opening the question as to the amount of the Award. The question how far the fishermen of Newfoundland exceeded their rights in interfering with United States fishermen was at present under the consideration of the Government.