CO885-(11-13) — Page 339

12,637.

MY LORD,

No. 112.

(NEWFOUNDLAND.)

LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.

Temple, October 14, 1876. We are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Lister's letter of the 20th ultimo, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to state to us that your Lordship caused our report of the 10th August, on the Draft Articles proposed for the settlement of the Newfoundland Fishery Question, to be submitted to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and that he (Mr. Lister) was there to transmit to us a letter from the Colonial Office, enclosing an Amended Draft of Article A., and that he was to request that we would favour your Lordship at our earliest convenience with our opinion on that article as now recast.

In obedience to your Lordship's commands we have the honour to

Report

•

*

That the clause as recast is in our opinion vague and ambiguous. The language of clause A., for example, in the phrases the same waters and "not already occupied" will be understood in different senses, and will certainly give rise to dispute hereafter.

But without any practical or local knowledge, and looking to the letter from the Colonial Office, we are unable to suggest how the clause could be made more certain or more clear.

The Earl of Derby,

&c.

&c.

We have, &c.,

(Signed)

JOHN HOLKER. HARDINGE GIFFARD.

J. PARKER DEANE.

A 1916.-111, 2-19/86.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

CO.

Reference :-

885

12 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO