§ SIR HENRY HOLLANDasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If it is true that the negotiations as to the Fortune Bay fishery disputes have been concluded; and, whether he can state to the House the terms agreed upon?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, the Papers which are about to be presented to Parliament will show that there has been an active correspondence with the Government of the United States as to the best means of settling this matter. 1860 In February, the United States Government proposed that the claims of American fishermen should be assessed by the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Evarts, and Sir Edward Thornton, either Government reserving the question of its Treaty rights. Lord Granville accepted that proposal; but intimated that it might be preferable for him to name a lump sum, and thus secure a prompt arrangement with a view to coming to an understanding with the United States Government as to the regulations to be observed by the fishermen of the respective countries in the coming fishing season. Mr. Evarts concurred, and the United States Minister in London was thereupon informed that Her Majesty's Government were ready to hold the sum of £15,000, or $75,000, at the disposal of the Government of the United States, on receiving his assurance that it was accepted in full of all claims arising out of any interruptions of American fishermen on the coast of Newfoundland and its dependencies up to the present time, and without prejudice to any question of the rights of either Government under the Treaty of Washington. Lord Granville felt bound to ask for an assurance covering all claims, as notice had been received from the United States Government of other claims besides those of the Fortune Bay fishermen, and it was possible that there might be others forthcoming. Mr. Evarts demurred to giving this assurance, though he said he had no reason to believe there were any other claims than those presented, which were estimated by the claimants, including interest, to amount to about $120,000. The Administration at Washington having changed on the 4th of March, the negotiations were resumed with Mr. Blaine, Mr. Evarts' successor, who, after some discussion as to the sufficiency of the sum offered, has now consented to give the required assurance in full, and has also agreed to come to an understanding with Her Majesty's Government as to the fishery regulations for the future. Her Majesty's Government are in communication with the Government of Newfoundland, the Governor of Newfoundland and the Premier (Sir W. Whiteway) being in London, and are in hopes that by a proper system of fishing regulations, and by due notice being given to the Newfoundland fishermen of the 1861 rights to which American fishermen are entitled, any occasion of collision or misunderstanding for the future may be obviated.