The Senate’s Betrayal: A Treaty That Gave Away Seattle’s Future

Report in the Senate. Washington, D.C., May 10.—The majority report of the Senate committee is reporting adversely to the treaty for the ratification of the fisheries treaty. Referring to the passage of the 'retaliatory act' and the failure of the president to put it in operation, instead of which negotiations were initiated and conducted to an apparent end as soon as possible. It was thought unfit to undertake in such way. These plenipotentiaries came to the conclusion of their labors on the 15th of February, 1888, and the offers of the plenipotentiaries terminated and a result was reached without advice and consent of the Senate having been asked or taken concerning the selection of their public ministers and without any communication to either house of Congress concerning this important subject. It is not difficult to see that in evil times when the president of the United States may be under the influence of foreign and adverse interests that such a want of procedure might result in disaster to the interests and safety of our government and people.

The majority criticise the president for withholding information upon the question from the Senate, and summarizes its findings and opinions as follows:

First—The United States admits as British territory and renounces forever all claim of independent right in all the great bays along the British North American coast named in the treaty, and admit that all such have form a part of and are within British territorial sovereignty and jurisdiction.

Second—Of the few such great bays left to be visited by the American fishermen the larger part is understood to be valueless, and some are subject to fresh fishers' rights older than our own.

Third, if bay fishing is not profitable now it may be in the future.

Fourth, whether profitable or not the United States ought not to give upon any consideration whatever the right of its vessels of every character to visit and carry on business in any part of the province.

Fifth, the treaty surrenders all claim and right of the United States which have been asserted and exercised now more than a century of its vessels engaged in fishing or other occupations, to visit and carry on their business in these great bays and principles of which claim and right has once been solemnly decided against Great Britain by a tribunal organized by a treaty with that government.

Sixth—The new area of delimitation described in the treaty greatly increases the danger of our fishermen unintentionally invading prohibited waters and thereby exposing them to seizures and penalties.

Seventh, the treaty by its fifth article renounces any right of the United States in any 'bay, etc., however large that cannot be reached from the sea without passing within the three marine miles mentioned in the articles of the convention of 1818, thus excluding the vessels of the United States from all waters, however extensive the sailing channel to which may happen to be within three miles of the shore.

Eighth, the treaty is a complete surrender of any claim of right now existing, either under the treaty of 1794 or the treaty of 1818.

Ninth, if it finds the United States to be content with whatever is given by the treaty as the full measure of its right and to be content with it forever, or until greater hospitality and freedom of intercourse can be obtained by farther concessions or considerations on our part.