The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-24
NEWFOUNDLAND TO BRITAIES PEERS
The Case OF the Colony Presented to
the House OF Lords.
Rome's Seven Hills Shaken By the
Explosion Of a Magazine.
Many People InJured-The Vatican
Among the Damaged Buildings.

LONDON, April 23.-The prospect OF repre-
sentatives Of one Of the colonies being heard
at the bar of the house attracted an unusual
ly large number of spectators to the House
of Lords today. There was full attendance
of peers, including the Prince Of Wales and
Prince Albert Victor, who sat together.
Lord Dunraven moved that the Newfound-
land delegates be heard at the bar Of the
house. Lord Knutsford assented to the mo-
tlon, and the Speaker, Lord Halsbury, gave
orders that the delegates be admitted. There
upon the five Newfoundland delegates, head
ed by the premier of Newfoundland, Sir
William Whiteway, made their appearance.
Sir William Whiteway delivered his state
ment aud was listened to throughout with
keen attention. He opened with review of
the history OF the legislation in which New
foundland is concerned since the treaty Of
Utrecht In 17l3. when France ceded st. Kits,
Hudson Bay. Nova Scotia and Newfound-
land to England. Sir William then proceeded
to give the details of the objections Of New
foundland to Lord Knutsf0rd's coercive bill,
and concluded with the following proposals,
which, he said, ought, in the opinion of the
delegates, aud In the opinion Of the people Of
Newfoundland. to be accepted by the impe-
rial government as a solution of the difficult
ties now existing: That the Newfoundland
legislature pass Immediately an act author
lzlng the execution for this year Of a modus
vlyendi. and of the award Of the arbitration
commission. together with all treaties and
declarations under instructions from the
Queen In council; that the further progress
OF the Kuutsford bill be deferred until the
the present arbitration agreement shall
not be allowed to operate beyond the
lobster question without obtaining the
prior consent sof the colony Of Newfound-
land in which case the colony shall be re-
presented on the commission that the colony
OF Newfoundland desires that the agreement
be for unconditional arbitration on all points
that either party can raise under the treaties.
II this can be arranged between Great
Britain and France, Newfoundland will not
ask to be represented upon the arbitration
commission and will pass an act to enforce
the execution OF the awards of the commits
sion, Sir William added that the NeWfOund-
land delegates regretted that, up to the pre-
sent moment, their proposals not only had
not been accepted but that no hope had been
held out that they ever would be accepted.
Their adoption. he said, would Immediately
cause the excitement at present existing In
Newfoundland to subside. The enactment
OF the bill would leave ranking wound in
llsh precedent which would ever give a
feeling OF Insecurity to every self governing
colony.
I'm offering on behalf of the colonial leg
islature," continued the premier, "to enact
laws providing for the honorable fulillment
OF obligations Of an exceedingly odious Kind
we are animated by a spirit of patriotism
aud devotion to the empire. Persistence in
the passage OF the bill, therefore, will be
poor return for that faith in Parliament
which animated the Newfoundland legisla-
ture In sending us to the bar of the House of
Lords"
Lord knutsford. at the conclusion of the
Newfoundland premier's remarks, in NOV
Ing 10 adjourn ihe second reading of his
Newfoundland c0ercive bill until Monday,
referred 10 terms Of warm praise to the yery
able speech made by Sir William Whiteway.
should the delegates be unsuccessful In
their APPEAL to the House of Lords, they in
tend to apply or hearing before the House
Of Commons.