Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1906, (In two parts), Part I

Governor Sir W. MacGregor to the Earl of Elgin.

[Telegraphic]

[undated]. (Received October 5, 1906.)

No. 40.]

With reference to the last part of my telegram of the 3d instant, my responsible advisers inform me that they have been apprised that the people of Bay St. George and Bay of Islands regard the usage of purse seines with great disfavor and alarm, and as destructive to their means of livelihood, and threats to destroy them have been expressed. They hold that if number of Newfoundland fishermen engage [to] Americans the majority will resent this. The subcollector at the Bay of Islands writes that armed force will be wanted, as certain naturalized resident American subjects advise the people to defy and ignore law. My responsible advisers have sent inspector of fisheries to examine position and report, so that proper steps to preserve peace may be taken.