The British Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Washington, October 20, 1905.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch dated the 19th of October, regarding the Newfoundland fishery question.
I do not think it desirable at present to make any detailed observations on this dispatch, but I have sent a copy to His Majesty’s Government, and have also telegraphed the substance of it both to His Majesty’s Government and to the governor of Newfoundland.
I note with satisfaction that the Government of the United States will do everything in their power, as we on our side shall certainly do, to prevent any collision between American fishermen and those of Newfoundland, and I trust that they will also do everything in their power to prevent the occurrence of any other untoward incident pending inquiry into the question of the Newfoundland “Act respecting foreign fishing vessels,” and the supposed misapprehension on the part of certain Newfoundland officials with regard to the status of vessels on the American register.
The Government of the United States can not doubt the desire of His Majesty’s Government to adhere strictly to all treaty provisions, and all that seems required in order to bring about a satisfactory conclusion in a case of this nature is the exercise by those concerned, on both sides, of patience and temper in the assertion of what they conceive to be their rights. It would be most unfortunate if the case were to be complicated by any precipitate action on the part of [Page 495] American fishermen or local officials. I will do all I can to prevent such action on the part of the local officials and look to you with confidence to prevent it on the part of the American fishermen.
I have, etc.,