Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1907, (In two parts), Part I

The British Foreign Office to the American Ambassador.

Foreign Office, September 6, 1907.

Your Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of the 4th instant, containing the terms of the modus vivendi with regard to the Newfoundland fisheries—which you are authorized by your Government to ratify.

I am glad to assure your excellency that His Majesty’s Government agrees to the terms of the modus vivendi and that your excellency’s note will be considered by His Majesty’s Government as a sufficient ratification of that arrangement on the part of His Majesty’s Government.

His Majesty’s Government fully shares the desire of your Government that the provisions of the modus vivendi should be made effective at the earliest possible moment, and the necessary steps will be taken by His Majesty’s Government to secure its observance.

His Majesty’s Government takes note of the conciliatory offer of the United States Government to consider in a most friendly spirit any changes in the modus vivendi which may be agreed upon locally between the Newfoundland authorities and the United States fishermen and which may be acceptable both to the United States Government and to His Majesty’s Government.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, your excellency’s most obedient humble servant,

E. Grey.

His excellency the honorable Whitelaw Reid.