HC Deb 09 September 1886 vol 308 cc1721-2
MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he can state in what particular points the Articles of the Fishery Treaty (1871) are alleged to have been infringed by American and Canadian fishermen; how far the commercial privileges embodied in Articles 30 and 31 have been carried out; and, whether any money award was made to this Country under Article 22 of the Treaty?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)

The Treaty of 1871 is not in question. The Fishery Articles of that Treaty expired in 1885 (see Parliamentary Paper, United States, No. 3, 1884). Article 30, concerning the Coasting Trade and Transit Duties, has also expired. Arrangements were made in 1873 to carry it out, and, consequentially, Article 31 (see Parliamentary Paper, North America, No. 12, 1873). A sum of $5,500,000 was paid to Her Majesty's Governmeat pursuant to Article 22 of the Treaty of 1871 (see Parliamentary Paper, North America, No. 4, 1878). The present difficulties with the United States turn on the construction of the Convention of 1818, which has been revived by the expiry of the Articles above mentioned of the (Washington) Treaty of 1871.