No. 329.

Mr. West to Mr. Bayard.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your notes of the 20th and 22d instant in regard to the proposed temporary arrangement touching the fisheries, in which you state that it is our clear and mutual understanding that such arrangement is only temporary, and that it proceeds from the mutual good-will of our respective Governments, and solely to avoid all difficulties which might otherwise arise from the termination of the fishing of 1885 in the midst of the season. Also that the same immunity which is accorded by this agreement to the vessels belonging to the citizens of the United States engaged, in fishing in the British American waters will be extended to British vessels and subjects engaged in fishing in the waters of the United States, and that the agreement has been reached under circumstances affording a prospect of negotiation for the development and extension of trade between the United States and British North America.

As therefore there exists no substantial difference between our respective propositions and the statements as contained in our correspondence on the subject, I shall consider the agreement as embodied in our [Page 466] memoranda and the correspondence between us as thus concluded, and shall inform Her Majesty’s Government and the Governments of the Dominion of Canada and Newfoundland accordingly.

I have, &c.,

L. S. SACKVILLE WEST.