passed beyond
the control of the two Governments, and still entertained the hope that
an effort might be made by her Majesty's Government to agree upon a
third Commissioner, in the spirit of the treaty and with the
concurrent appointment of the two Governments. Sir Edward replied, on
December 2, as instructed by Lord Granville, that "her Majesty's
Government, concurring with the Law Officers of the Crown, thinks the
Article is explicit as to the appointment of the third Commissioner
being left to the Austrian representative in London if not made within
a certain date," and added: "Her Majesty's Government, therefore,
consider that the Government of the Dominion of Canada might complain
if the nomination were not made as provided for by the treaty; and that
if the arbitrator were to give a decision unfavorable to Canada great
discontent might arise in consequence in the colony." Earl Granville,
therefore, asked that the two Governments might agree upon an "identic
note to be addressed to the Austrian Government by the representatives
of the United States and Great Britain, requesting that the Austrian
embassador at London may be authorized to proceed with the nomination
of the third Commissioner."

Having by this dilatory if not tortuous process thrown the choice of
the third Commissioner into the hands of the Austrian Ambassador at
London, the British Government evidently felt that it had won a great
advantage. If that Government had reason to fear the influence of
any foreign Minister residing at Washington,--unless he should be one
representing a country dependent upon British power for its origin and
existence,--it assuredly could not doubt that an Austrian Ambassador,
residing in London, instinctively hostile to a Republican government,
and cherishing a special grievance against the United States, would
lean to the English side of any question submitted to arbitration.
Beyond these considerations came the social influences in the richest
capital of the world--all favorable to England, all hostile to the
United States. Apparently believing that the United States would
shrink from presenting the case of the fisheries to a commission in
which Great Britain had so manifest an advantage, that Government
proposed (before the Commission could sit) to open negotiations looking
to a renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty between Canada and the United
States. The British authorities had in their own hands, as they
naturally