1142 ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATION [PART v 
been nominated by the United States. In the result the 
decision which was given against Canada depended on the 
vote of the Chief Justice of England, and the indignation felt 
in Canada was more serious than any previous exhibition of 
dissatisfaction with the Imperial Government. 
The advent of Mr. Bryce as Ambassador, and the satisfac- 
bory conclusion of a long series of treaties to regulate the 
fisheries, the boundary waters, the international boundary, 
wreckage, the conveyance of prisoners, pecuniary claims, 
and above all the successful conclusion of the Arbitration 
as to the North American Fisheries, have induced in Canada 
a more favourable view of British diplomacy. 
At the same time a new development of more importance 
has taken place in Canada, namely the practice of carrying 
on negotiations, informally indeed, but none the less impor- 
tant, with the consular representatives of foreign Powers. 
Ever since 18971! the Japanese Consul-General has habitu- 
ally communicated with the Imperial Government in the 
most formal manner regarding disabilities imposed by the 
Legislature of British Columbia on Japanese subjects. His 
representations have been supported by representations 
made by the Japanese Ambassador in London. In 1893 and 
in 1907 2 the plan was still adopted by the Canadian Govern- 
ment of negotiating formally for commercial arrangements 
with France, the arrangements being concluded in a formal 
treaty signed by the Ambassador at Paris and by the Cana- 
dian Ministers in Canada. This plan was also adopted in 
1909 in connexion with the supplementary arrangement with 
France, and in 1906 a formal convention was arranged by 
desire of Canada for adherence to the Japanese treaty of 1894.3 
But at the same time there has grown up a simpler procedure. 
See his letters in Provincial Legislation, 1896-8, 1899-1900. 
See Parl. Pap., C. 6968, Cd. 3823. See also p. 1117, n. 1. 
The action of the Canadian Government in not securing a special 
concession as to immigration was in part due to an understanding with 
the Consul-General, but it exposed them to grave censure by the Opposition 
when the Vancouver riots broke out; see Part V, chap. iv; Canadian 
Annual Review, 1507, pp. 391-6: Debates, pp. 2025 seq. : Parl. Pap., Cd. 
3157.