The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-04-29

natural resources of the island. After
Waterloo, England again had France at
her mercy-as she had in 1913 and
1763-and could have extinguished
French rights on the island and in its
waters, but then, as at the former pc
RODS, the provisions of the treaties were
re-enacted. England's craftsmanship
in this respect has not been charac-
terized by briliancy or foresight. To-
day the lordly cod is not found along
the shores of the island. His home is
on the banks, but the colonists can not
build mills, develop rich mines of coal
and gypsum, or cultivate fertile farm
ing lands along some five hundred
miles of shore line, because of Frances
claims to exclusive rights there for the
purpose of catching fish which have
long since disappeared. 1t is true, set
Elements have been made along the
French shore to some extent and at
tempts have been made by the colon
lists at diversified industries, but it is
done with infinite quarreling. The
rights of France are practically bar
to the growth and development of the
island. All attempts of the colonial
legislature to get outside of those rights
have been, in the nature of the case, I'M
availing. France maintains her treaty
rights though she does not realize a
cent from them. They have for her
only tactical advantage. BY insisting
upon them, because they are valuable
to Great Britain, she may sometime
force from that power concessions in
other parts of the globe that will be of
value.
Some five years ago the colonists be-
gan to can Holsters, which are abundant
and of rare quality along the French
shore. The French authorities imme-
diately insisted that the industry which
King George had specified should be
conducted there was a codfshery and
that the colonists had no right to catch
and can Holsters. Nevertheless, seeing
that the lobster fishery was profitable,
the French forthwith eagerly engaged
in the new industry. The colonists
savagely protested. They got no salts
faction from Great Britain. The
mother country quietly patched up an
arrangement with France that put the
lobster industry in the control of the
French authorities. The wrath of the
Newfoundlanders blazed forth in angry
denunciations. They demanded that
England make an end of this hateful
French claim that paralyzes all their
enterprises, and commission of their
ablest men is now in London to enforce
this demand.
But Newfoundland troubles do not
end here. Her colonial secretary re-
Gently negotiated treaty with Mr..
Blaine by which, in return for free bait
to American fishermen, Newfoundland
was to have free market for her fish
in the United States. For free bait
France would relinquish all her claims
on the island, but free bait to France
would mean the humiliation of New
foundland's fishery trade. She will
not pay this price for relief from the
French incubus. Canada would gladly
exchange bait for free admission of fish
to the United States, but Canada's bait
market is of little account. In this res
pect the interests of the United States
and Newfoundland are entirely recipro-
cal, but because the Newfoundland fish
cry product would be greatly increased
under this treaty, Canada vehemently
protests against its ratification and Great
Britain refuses to ratify. This adds fuel
to the fires of discomfort burning in the
colony and intensifies the desire for an
nexation to the United States. The COM
plications thus outlined, with the Behr-
ing Sea contention, make the situation
an intensely interesting one to the Unit
ed States and presents fine field for
skilful diplomacy.