§ MR. OSBORNE MORGAN (Denbighshire, E.)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he can, consistently with the public interests, state whether Her Majesty's Government are taking any and what steps to bring about a speedy settlement of the pending Fisheries Dispute between Canada and the United States of America, or, if he can hold out any hopes that such a settlement will be effected?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)My answer to the right hon. and learned Gentleman is in tenour with what was stated by the First Lord of the Treasury last night. Her Majesty's Government have been continuously in correspondence with the Government of the United States on the question of the extent, if any, to which fishermen from the United States shall be permitted to fish in Canadian waters and to enter Canadian bays and harbours, otherwise than as prescribed by the Treaty of 1818, all subsequent agreements having lapsed. The House will bear in mind that the fisheries of the Dominion are by all admissions very valuable. Her Majesty's Government have followed the traditional policy of successive Administrations in maintaining the rights of the Colonies, with a desire to conciliate the United States. Without pursuing the course of the negotiations, I may say that a proposal has just reached Her Majesty's Government from the Government of Canada, which is under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, and which, from the liberality of its character, appears likely to contribute materially to the settlement of the disputes.