The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-24
NEwFoUNDLAND's PROTEST.
Her Delegates Appear in the House
of Lords.

LONDON, April 2A-The expectation Of
so rare and important an event as repre-
sentatives of colony being heard at the
bar of the House attracted an unusually
large number Of spectators to the House of
Lords. The seats in the side galleries were
nlled with peeresses, and the galleries as
signed to the members of the House of
Commons were largely occupied. Behind
and around the bar groups Of favored ladies
gave an unusual aspect Of liveliness to the
customary dullness Of the chamber. There
was full attendance of peers, and the
Prince of W ales and Prince Albert Victor sat
together on the cross bench. On the steps of
the throne were seated Lord Lorne Sir John
Gorst, political secretary Of the India office {;
Baron Henry Deworms, political secretary
OF the colonial office; Postmaster General
Raikes, Sir Henry James and other leading
members of House Of Commons.
NEwFoUNDLAND's HEARING.
Lord Dunraven then moved that the
Newfoundland delegates be hear at the bar
of the house. Lord Dunraveu quoted
precedents sustaining their claim to appear
at the board.
Lord Knutsford, secretary of the colonial
department, gave his assent to Lord Dun
ravens motion. and five Newfoundlanders,
headed by Premier Sir William Whiteway,
appeared to present the case of the colony.
After historical review of the events from
the time Newfoundland became a Brit
ish possession he concluded with
the following proposals, which he
said ought, in the opinion of
the delegates, and in the opinion of the
people of Newfoundland, to be accepted by
the imperial government as a solution of
the difficulties now existing: That the New
foundlaud legislature pass Immediately an
act authorizing the execution for this year
of the mOduS Uivendi and of the award of
the arbitration, together with all treaties
and declarations under instructions from
the queen in council; that further progress
of the Knutsford bill be deferred until the
passage OF the above act,
and that the present arbitration
shall not be allowed to operate beyond the
lobster question without the consent of the
colony of Newfoundland, in which case the
colony shall be represented on the commits
sion. That the colony of Newfoundland
desires that the agreement be for uncondi-
tlonal arbitration on all points that either
party can raise under the treaty. IL this
can be arranged between Great Britain and
France, Newfoundland will ask to be repre-
sented upon the arbitration commission,
and will pass an act to enforce the execution
of the awards of the commission.
GIVEN NO ENCOURAGEMENT.
Mr. Whiteway added that the Newfound-
land delegates regret that up to the present
moment these proposals have not only not
been accepted, but that no hope has been
held out that they ever will be accepted
Their adoption, he said, would Immediately
cause the excitement at present existing in
Newfoundland to subside, and would induce
peace under conditions which would
make coercion by war ships
extremely difficult. Mr.. Whiteway added
that if the Knutsford bill became a law it
will have been forced upon a resentful peo-
pie, but if the proposals of the Newfound-
land delegates were adopted every good OBJ
Ject of the bill would be easily and pleas
antly attained. The enactment of the bill
would leave ranking wound in the hearts
of the colonists and would establish a prec-
edent which would ever give a feeling of
insecurity to every self-governing colony.
A SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM.
In offering on behalf of the colonial leg
islature to enact laws providing for an
honorable fulflllment 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 legislature in sending US to
the bar of the House of Lords. MIR. White
way was listened to throughout with keen
attention. Lord Knutsford, at the con-
clusion of the Newfoundland premier's re-
marks, in moving to adjourn second reading
of his Newfoundland coercive bill until
Monday, referred in terms of warm praise
to the very able speech made by Mr. White
way. This adjournment was in order to
give the government time to fully consider
the representations made by the Newfound-
land delegates. Should the delegates be
unsuccessful in their appeal to the House of
Lords, they intend to apply for hearing
before the House of Commons.
FORTY VESSELS RUN THE BLOCKADE.
PARIS, April ga telegram to the
Temps from Miquelon says: Forty New
foundland vessels which ran the blockade
have arrived at st. Pierre with herrings
Fishermen at Fortune bay are in armed re-
volt and are determined to resist to the
bitter end. Thirty-four armed schooners
have left st. Pierre for the banks"
PRESS COMMENTS.
LONDON, April "a. A. M.-The Post, In
an editorial on the hearing of the New
foundlaud delegates at the bar Of the House
of Lords, says that Sir William Whiteway
has not made out q very substantial case.
The NelOs says that Newfoundland's pre-
mier presented a temperate statement, which
deserves the fullest attention Of the govern
ment and of the country.