The Earl of Elgin to Governor Sir William MacGregor.
Will answer your telegram of 29th September as soon as possible. In meantime, please inform your ministers that United States ambassador has suggested privately, but not as on behalf of his Government, that in order to minimize inconveniences and discontent arising from use of purse seines by United States fishermen and the shipping of Newfoundland fishermen outside 3-mile limit, following arrangement might be adopted, viz, Newfoundland government to suspend for this season prohibition to engage crews in territorial waters, in return for which United States vessels would stop using purse seines after November 1, by which time they would have engaged enough men to work with nets only. Would your ministers be prepared to entertain such an arrangement?