§ MR. BAILLIE COCHRANEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the United States have, since the signature of the Treaty of Washington, availed themselves of the provisional use of the privileges granted to them by that Treaty in the Dominion of Canada, Prince Edward's Island, and Newfoundland; and whether they will continue to do so in the event of the postponement of the Arbitration; and, whether the term "provisional use" does not imply that, in the event of the failure of the Treaty, the provisions of the Treaty with respect to the Fisheries must come to an end?
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENAs this question bears directly upon the Colonial Department, my right hon. Friend at the head of the Government has requested me to answer it. I shall do so according to the best of my ability. My hon. Friend will really find the answer to the first part of the Question in the Papers which have been presented to Parliament. The Government of the United States applied for the provisional use of the privileges granted to them by the Treaty of Washington in the Dominion of Canada, Prince Edward's Island, and Newfoundland during the fishing season of 1871—that is, last year. In the exercise of her undoubted right Canada refused to allow that provisional use, and the fishermen of the United States have consequently been, and continue to be, excluded from the Canada fisheries. Prince Edward's Island and Newfoundland granted the permission, and Newfoundland has continued to grant it during the present season. With regard to the latter part of the Question—which refers to the meaning and signification of a word in the English language—I should hardly presume to instruct my hon. Friend; but I think he and the House will probably concur with me in the opinion that the words "provisional use" mean a use which is temporary, and contingent on the occurrence of something else. That something else I take to be the legislation necessary to carry out the provisions of the Treaty by the Imperial Parliament and the Colonial Legislatures on the one hand, and the Government of the United States upon the other; and, 1859 if that legislation do not take place, I apprehend that without doubt the provisional use will fall to the ground.