File No. 711.428/453
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of Commerce ( Redfield )
My Dear Mr. Secretary: Referring to my letter of October 8, in which I informed you of my interview with the British Ambassador with reference to the proposed conference between representatives of this Government and the Government of Canada for the consideration of pending questions concerning the fisheries on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, I send you herewith for your information a copy of a note of the 8th instant from the Ambassador in which he states that it is the understanding of the Canadian Government that this Government contemplates the appointment of the Assistant Secretary of your Department, and Mr. Smith (presumably Dr. Hugh M. Smith) as the representatives of the United States at this conference, and that the Canadian Government are prepared to recommend the appointment of their commissioners as soon as the representatives of this Government shall have been appointed. It appears from this communication that the Canadian Government are favorably disposed toward a conference of this character, and I would appreciate your confirmation of the British Ambassador’s statement as to the persons who will be designated as the representatives of the United States.
I presume the questions as to the time and place for holding the conference may properly be left for determination by the representatives of the two Governments after they have been officially commissioned.
I am of the opinion that upon advising the British Ambassador of the names of the representatives of this Government, we should make it clear that it is the understanding of this Government that the representatives of the United States and Canada are to be empowered merely to reach, if possible, a mutually satisfactory understanding as to the pending questions concerning the fisheries on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and to report the result of their deliberations to their Governments as a basis for the subsequent negotiation of a formal agreement between the two Governments. My idea is that the proposed conference should thrash out the questions at issue and prepare the way for diplomatic negotiations leading to the consummation of a formal agreement.
Please advise me whether or not you concur in this view.
Sincerely yours,