See No. 13. Committee of Council strongly urge issue of Proclamation to bring into force Foreign Fishing-Vessels Act, 1906," and See No. 14. Transmits copy of Minute of Refers to No. 13. Transmits copy of letter to Sir R. Bond, calling his attention to fact that Newfoundland Government had offered no suggestions that would facilitate the prepara- tion of the proposals that His Majesty's Government desire to submit to the United Refers to No. 18. Are Newfoundland Govern- ment ready to indemnify His Majesty's Gov- ernment against any claims for compensation preferred by United States' Government, and See Nos. 18 and 19, Newfoundland Government earnestly urge proclamation of Act No. 1 of APPENDIX No. 1.-Article I of Convention between His Britannick Majesty and the United States of America. Signed at London, October 20, 1818 .. No. 2.-An Act to enable His Majesty to make Regulations with respect to the taking and curing Fish on certain parts of the Coasts of Newfoundland, Labrador, and His Majesty's other Possessions in North America, according to a Convention made No. 6.-Convention between Great Britain and the United States of America for the Improvement of Commercial Relations between the United States and His Britannic Majesty's Colony of Newfoundland, signed November 8, 1902 No. 8.-Speech by Sir R. Bond in moving House of Assembly into Committee on "The Foreign Fishing Vessels Bill, 1905," delivered April 12, 1905.. Correspondence respecting Newfoundland Fisheries. No. 1. Mr. Root to Sir M. Durand.-(Received at Foreign Office, October 27.) Dear Mr. Ambassador, Department of State, Washington, I HAVE just telegraphed you at Lenox expressing my wish for an interview at your early convenience. The occasion for the request is a despatch which I have just received from Senator Lodge, containing the following statement based, I assume, upon information received from his constituents in Massachusetts, who are interested in the fisheries: Newfoundland cruiser Fiona' has arrived in Bay of Islands, on Treaty Coast, with Minister of Marine and Fisheries on board. The Minister has forbidden all vessels on American register to fish on Treaty Coast, where they now are, and where they have fished unmolested since 1818." The American boats are already upon the Treaty Coast. I have felt bound to advise Senator Lodge that I have no doubt of their right to proceed to take fish upon the ground where the Minister of Marine and Fisheries of Newfoundland has prohibited them from fishing. The history of the fisheries and the numerous difficulties which have arisen upon the Treaty Coast indicate that this conflict between the orders of the { Newfoundland Government and the rights of our fishermen, as we conceive them to be, may lead to very serious and regrettable incidents. It seems unfortunate that the Government of Newfoundland should undertake to prohibit a practice justified by the construction of the various Treaties relating to the Newfoundland fisheries for more than a century without any suggestion by the Government of Great Britain that that Government proposes any change of construction, and without any exchange of views between the two Governments upon the subject. I shall wish to satisfy you that immediate representation should be made to the Government of Newfoundland, which will lead to a different way of raising and disposing of any questions which there may be regarding our fishermen's rights under the existing Treaty. I am, &c. } Mr. Root to Sir M. Durand.-(Received at Foreign Office, October 27.) Excellency, Department of State, Washington, October 19, 1905. MR. GARDNER, the Representative in Congress of the Gloucester district, has placed in my hands a number of despatches received by him from masters of American vessels now on the Newfoundland coast. These despatches are answers to inquiries sent by him at my request for the purpose of ascertaining definitely, if possible, what is the precise difficulty there. These despatches agree in the statement that vessels of American registry are forbidden to fish on the Treaty Coast. One captain says that he was informed that |