Sir Edward Grey to Sir M. Durand.
Sir: The American ambassador called at this office to-day, and requested an early reply to the memorandum communicated by his excellency on the 12th instant respecting the proposed modus vivendi in regard to the Newfoundland fishery question.
His excellency was informed that His Majesty’s Government were doing all that they could to expedite an early and satisfactory reply, that they were pressing the Newfoundland government to authorize temporarily the use of purse seines, on the understanding that care would be taken not to interfere with other modes of fishing, and that they hoped that, if this were agreed to, the United States Government would do all in their power to discourage and prevent the engagement of Newfoundland fishermen just outside the 3-mile limit.
Mr. Whitelaw Reid said that he would telegraph in this sense to his Government.
I am, etc.,