Governor Sir W.
MacGregor to the Earl of
Elgin.
Government House,
St. Johns,
Newfoundland, August 20,
1906.
(Received August 31.)
No. 17.]
My Lord: With reference to your telegram of
yesterday, I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of a letter I have
written to my prime minister, covering a transcript of the telegram
referred to above.
I have adopted that course because it does not seem to me that in the
minute of council of the 15th August, a résumé of which was sent you by
telegram last night, my ministers have offered any suggestions that
would facilitate the preparation of the proposals that His Majesty’s
Government desire to submit to the Government of the United States to
establish temporarily a modus vivendi.
In my letter, copy of which is inclosed, I have called the attention of
ministers to this fact, and have invited them to submit such suggestions
as they desire to receive consideration in the framing of the proposals.
As my prime minister will not arrive in town till some time to-morrow, I
may not receive an answer to either my letter or the telegram it covers
for a day or two.
I have, etc.,
[Page 730]
[Inclosure in No. 17.]
Governor Sir W.
MacGregor to Sir R.
Bond.
Dear Sir Robert Bond: I have the honor to
transmit herewith a transcript of a telegram received on Sunday
afternoon from the Secretary of State.a
- 2.
- I would point out to ministers that it would appear from the
telegram of the 8th August that His Majesty’s Government were at
that date informing the Government of the United States that,
pending discussion of the questions at issue, they were prepared
to negotiate a provisional arrangement, and would shortly submit
proposals for that purpose. This decision apparently had not
been arrived at when the Secretary of State wrote his dispatch
of the 6th August, covering copy of Mr. Root’s letter of the
30th June.
- 3.
- It is clear from the telegram received yesterday that the
position and views of His Majesty’s Government remain unchanged.
They find it necessary that they, to avoid a position that, in
their opinion, might become undesirable and even dangerous,
should make proposals to the United States Government that would
enable the discussion to be carried on in a friendly manner, and
the ensuing autumn fishery to be carried out without any
untoward incident. It is clear enough that His Majesty’s
Government fear the occurrence of such incidents if this
Government should proceed to put into effect as against American
vessels those regulations to which the United States Government
take exception.
- 4.
- In the telegram of the 8th August, His Majesty’s Government
show a manifest desire to prepare the proposals to be submitted
by them to the United States Government as far as possible in
conformity with the wishes of this Government. The Secretary of
State has therefore invited an expression of opinion from this
Government as to what proposals could be made in order to relax
the political tension now existing. I now desire to direct the
earnest attention of ministers to this point, at the same time
reminding them that this question seriously concerns the foreign
relations of the Empire, and that His Majesty’s Government
clearly regard it as of weighty importance.
I should therefore be glad to receive from ministers such suggestions
as they may be prepared to offer to the Secretary of State with a
view to relieving the present political tension and to procuring
time for an amicable consideration of the points as to which
divergent views are at present entertained by the two
Governments.
I have, etc.,
