§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If it in intended to refer Article 30 of the Treaty of Washington, 1871, to the New Fishery Commission, as well as the Fishery Articles of the Treaty; whether the composition and powers of the Commissioners will be in accordance with the Memorandum forwarded by the American Government on the 22nd June, 1885; whether the terms of the draft Protocol submitted by Mr. Adams to Lord Clarendon in 1866 will also form part of the reference; and, if the Alaskan Seal Fisheries disputes are also to be referred to the new Commissioners for adjustment; if not, can he state for what reason?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)It is not intended, at present, to refer to the new Fishery Commission Article 30, which relates to the passage of goods through Canada and the United States respectively, freely and without duty. The Memorandum referred to (see page 15 of Parliamentary Paper, United States, No. 1, 1887) expressed the views of the United States Government at the time. I am not prepared to say that it will limit the scope of the present reference. I may refer the hon. Member to the Marques? of Salisbury's despatch of March 24 last, at page 95 of Parliamentary Paper, United States, No. 2, 1887, for the views of Her Majesty's Government in proposing the appointment of a Commission. The full terms of reference have not yet been decided upon, and this point will receive consideration.
§ MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)Will the right hon. Gentleman have any 908 objection to state who the other Members of the Commission are to be, in addition to the right hon. Member for West Birmingham (Mr. Chamberlain)?
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONHer Majesty's Minister at Washington will be one of the other Commissioners, and the third will be a Canadian; but he has not yet been named.