As the proposed treaty has a bearing on the fishing interests of New
England, and on account of your long familiarity with the fisheries
questions between the United States and Canada, I would greatly
appreciate an expression of views from you with respect to the
enclosed draft treaty before presenting it to the British Government
as a tentative basis for negotiations. If you could find time to
examine the draft and write me in regard to it, I would be greatly
obliged.
[Enclosure]
Draft Treaty between the United States of
America and Great Britain Concerning Port Privileges of
Fishing Vessels
The United States of America and His Majesty George the V, of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British
Dominions beyond the Seas, King, and Emperor of India, being
equally desirous of avoiding any further misunderstanding
between their respective citizens and subjects in regard to the
extent of the rights of fishing vessels in the ports of their
respective territories, and being further desirous of
maintaining the amicable arrangements which they have
respectively voluntarily established during the present war,
have resolved to conclude a Convention for these purposes, and
have named as their plenipotentiaries:
- The President of the United States of America:
- His Britannic Majesty, who after having communicated
to each other their respective full powers, found in
good and due form, have agreed upon the following
articles:
Article 1
It is agreed by the high contracting parties that in addition to
the liberties and privileges secured to the United States or the
inhabitants thereof by the Convention concluded between the
United States of America and His Britannic Majesty on October
20, 1818,14 the
inhabitants of the United States shall have, in common with the
subjects of His Britannic Majesty, the right to enter any port
in the Dominion of Canada without the requirement of a license,
or [Page 241] the payment of fees
not charged to Canadian fishing vessels, for the purpose of
purchasing bait, ice, nets, lines, coal, oil, provisions, and
all other supplies and outfits used by fishing vessels whether
the same are of a like character to those named herein or not;
repairing fishing implements; shipping crews; transshipping
their catches, and where transshipped for destinations located
within the United States, shipping same in bond without payment
of local tariff duty; landing and/or selling their catches
locally upon payment of the tariff duty locally applicable
thereto; entering and clearing for the high seas and fisheries,
as in the case of merchant vessels entering and clearing for
foreign ports, except that they shall be exempt from tonnage
duties and other charges specifically imposed on vessels
entering from, and clearing for, foreign ports; and dressing and
salting their catches on board ship in such ports and in the
territorial waters of the Dominion of Canada.
Article 2
It is further agreed by the high contracting parties that British
subjects residing in the Dominion of Canada shall have, in
common with the inhabitants of the United States, the right to
enter any port in the United States without the requirement of a
license, or the payment of fees not charged to fishing vessels
of the United States, for the purpose of purchasing bait, ice,
nets, lines, coal, oil, provisions, and all other supplies and
outfits used by fishing vessels whether the same are of a like
character to those named herein or not; repairing fishing
implements; shipping crews; transshipping their catches, and
where transshipped for destinations located within the Dominion
of Canada, shipping same in bond without payment of local tariff
duty; landing and/or selling their catches locally upon payment
of the tariff duty locally applicable thereto; entering and
clearing for the high seas and fisheries, as in the case of
merchant vessels entering and clearing for foreign ports, except
that they shall be exempt from tonnage duties and other charges
specifically imposed on vessels entering from and clearing for,
foreign ports; and dressing and salting their catches on board
ship in such ports and in the territorial waters of the United
States.
Article 3
It is further agreed by the high contracting parties that all
persons employed or being upon vessels entering the ports of
Canada and the United States from the high seas fisheries shall
be subject to the immigration laws and regulations of the
respective countries, wherever applicable.
[Page 242]
Article 4
This Convention shall remain in force until two years from the
date when either of the High Contracting Parties shall give
notice to the other of its desire to terminate this
Convention.
The present Convention shall be duly ratified by the President of
the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate thereof, and by His Britannic Majesty, and the
ratifications shall be exchanged in Washington as soon as
practicable.
In faith whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed
the present Convention in duplicate, and have thereunto affixed
their seals.
Done at Washington, the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ day of _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and
nineteen.
