The Hawaiian gazette., 1891-04-21
THE NEWFOUNDLAND eUEsTI ON.

OON6Iul1OuG hNfihS AOoShON
threatening condition, the Secre-
tary of State for the Colonies has
introduced a bill into Parliament
to enable the Imperial Government
to secure modus vivendi with re-
gard to the dispute, notwithstand-
ing the refusal of the local govern
ment to consent to arbitration or
give legal effect to the award of
the arbitrators.
This bill has given rise to great
indignation amongst the people, as
it gives naval officers supreme
authority along the coast and ad
iacent waters, and the Parliament
of Newfoundland has sent a petit
ton to the House of Commons,
praying that the action respecting
arbitration be delayed until the
local Parliament shall have had an
opportunity of expressing its views
on the subject. Sir John Pope
Hennessey in Parliament and Sir
Chas. Dixie out of-doors, both op:
pose the bill, the latter pointing
out that, if passed, its provisions
can be carried out only by methods
perilously similar to those of civil
war. Meanwhile the Newfound-
land courts have given damages
against Captain Sir Baldwin Walker
of H. NJ. S. Emerald for removing
some nets in the execution of his
instructions while stationed on the
Newfoundland coast.
As partial solution of the ques-
tion it is stated that Lord Salisbury
is using every effort to bring about
a confederation of that colony with
the Dominion. 1t is believed that
the Government would gladly well
come any reasonable proposition
by which the union might be
attained, but the attempt at feder-
alton would certainly be opposed
by many leading merchants Of
Newfoundland, as it would destroy
the monopoly they now enjoy in
trade.
In regard to the proposed arbi-
tration, the following agreement
was signed in London by Lord
Salisbury and Mons. Waddington
on the 18th March. (We give the
text in a somewhat abbreviated
form).
1. The arbitrators shall judge
and decide all the questions of
principle which shall be submitted,
concerning the catching and pre-
paration of Holsters on the coasts
between Cape st. John and Cape
Ray.
2. The two Governments agree
to execute the decisions Of the
Commission of Arbitration.
3. The modus vivendi of 1890 is
renewed purely and simply for the
fishing season of 1891.
1. As soon as the questions
shall have been decided by the
Commission, it may take cogni-
zance Of other subsidiary questions
* upon the text of which
the two Governments shall have
previously come to an agreement.
5. The Commission shall be com
posed of (a) three specialists OF
jurisconsults designated by com
mon consent Of the two Govern
ments; (b) two delegates of each
country who shall be the author
Ized channels Of communication be-
tween the Governments and the
other arbitrators.
6. This Commission of seven
shall decide by majority Of votes
and without appeal.
Z. 1t shall meet as soon as pos
sible.
With reference to the above
arrangement the two Governments
have designated by common con-
sent, as the three arbitrators the
following names: 1. NJ. de Mar
tens, Professor of international
Law at the University of st.
Petersburg. 2. NJ. Rivier, Consul
General of Switzerland at Brussels,
President of the Institute of Inter-
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