}
16,676.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.
885
13 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
No. 128.
(NEWFOUNDLAND.)
LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.
MY LORD,
Royal Courts of Justice, WE were honoured with your Lordship's commands signified in Mr. Bramston's letter of the 7th instant, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to acknowledge
August 16, 1888. the receipt of our Report of the 30th ultimo, relating to the question of the removal to a distance of half a mile from the coast of certain lobster factories established on that part of the coast of Newfoundland on which the French had certain treaty rights.
That your Lordship observed that our opinion on that subject appeared to be partly based on the statement appended to the "Arrangement" relating to the fisheries which was signed at Paris on the 14th of November 1885.
That your Lordship desired Mr. Bramston to point out that that "Arrangement' was signed by the British and French Commissioners "subject to the approval of their respective Governments" and that the statement formed part of a general" Arrange- on which concessions were proposed to be made on both sides, but that the 'Arrangement" had never been finally ratified or approved, owing to its provisions having been rejected by the Legislature of Newfoundland.
ment
That the distances fixed in the statement referred to, would be looked upon by the French Government as a concession in respect of their contention under the old treaties in return for certain advantages proposed to be given to them by the "Arrangement," but from which advantages they were debarred by the action of the Newfoundland Legislature.
That Mr. Bramston was therefore to request that we would be good enough to inform your Lordship whether the circumstances above alluded to would affect the opinion given in our Report.
In obedience to your Lordship's commands, we have the honour to
Report
That we do not think it necessary to alter the opinion expressed in our Report of the 30th July 1888, as we think that opinion is supported by the terms of the Declaration of 1783, even if no attention is to be paid to the "Arrangement" of 1885.
Having regard to the references made to the "Arrangement" of 1885 in previous letters to us and our Reports thereon, we think it right to note that we are now for the first time informed that the "Arrangement" of 1885 is not considered binding by Her Majesty's Government.
&c.
The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c.
&c.
(Signed)
We have, &c.,
RICHARD E. WEBSTER. EDWARD CLARKE.
A 52950,-32. 25,-8/88.