New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-07
A COLONIAL TRIUMPH.
IMPORTANT CONCESSIONS TO THE NEW
FOUNDLAND DELEGATES.

FRENCH SHORE
London June 25.-As the facts are nnally de-
seloping concerning the concessions winch nave
been obtained from Lord Salisbury by the New
foundand delegation which has been IN Lohuon
for the last two months it is found that the Pre-
mier has wandered long way from the lines OF
polcy he had fixed prior to the delegates VISIT
At first il was thought that nothing of substan-
tial character had been surrendered. The grim
severity of Lord Salisbury's demeanor ana the
tenacity with which Lord Knutsford chung TO ms
Coercion bill accounted for this notion. But the
Colonial statesmen were shrewd, bold and united
They knew what they wanted, and knew the pre-
else limit to which the colony would allow them
20 90 in meeting Lord Salisburys conditions
From the first the Premiers instincts OF justice
favored tho delegations pleas. lie was only helo
back by his fear lest France should retahae III
Burmah or become more noisy and aggressive WIN
regard TO Egypt He knew that the french were
not sincere In the value they claimed to entertain
for their alleged rights in Newfoundland lie
knew that there were no fish off the French shore,
and that il there were the French fishermen would
still pursue their more profitable business on the
Banks whcreuntO the treaties do not appertaln'
But of course he could not wisely charge these
things against them.
Things were going against the colony when the
delegates arrived. The Government were much
preudiced because of Mr.. Bonds reciprocity
treaty with the United States, and of his subse-
ouent charges against Lord Knutsford In tie
Colonial Assembly. Mr. Bonds behavior was
regarded as highly INDIGENOUS and the response
bilitv of il was charged against Newfoundland and
the Observation-Disclosures generally. Lord knutStord
had already informed the colony that he should
proceed to the settlement of the French Shore con-
troversy without paying any further attention to
the complaints or demands of the colony In
accordance with that determination, Lord Sails
bury had already reached an agreement with
France that the lobster issue should be referred
10 arbitrator. that the modus vivendi Of 1890
should be renewed for the season OF 1891, ana
that an act should be passed by the British Par
lament enabling Her Maiestys naval officers TO
enforce the terms of the modus, their power to do
which had been denied by the law courts OF New
foundland 1t was the introduction Of this Coer-
cion act that brought the delegates to London.
Socially they were well received Many promi-
nent people entertained them and listened politely
10 their grievances The Government accorded
them everything that could be described as
right everything indeed, that was politically
txpedient But in Government circles il WAS no
secret that they were heard with GOODNESS. and,
although they made speech al the bar of the
Honse of Lords and talked more or less through
the newspapers The impression generally was That
they had obtained very little that wac of pract-
cal value to the colony II was only when they
discovered 70 Lord Salisbury that they were able
70 exert a commanding influence upon their home
Assembly that lie began to yield. The passage
by the Newfoundland Legislature Of an act en-
forcing for two years through Imperial and
Colonial agencies the terms of the hated moduS
prt powerful lever into the hands of the dele
rates here 1t was letter Of credit. 1t showed
the Premier that they possessed hctual power, ana
tl.at their assurances could be relied on. Imme-
d'ately t.eir footing at the Foreign Office became
better. and little ly little they extorted tie terms
Of an agreement which in IFS entirety is great
colonial victory Its remarkable quality, and that
which c0nmends its authors as men OF strong
sanacity as well as patriotism, IS IFS freedom from
ortcntation. Tie victory it contains has to be
prrued out. 1t does not show on lis
face There is nothing III the agreement
That involves humiliating terms TO either
side. II looks like compromise ali around, Dut
il is really a triumph for the colonists. In the
first place, the Knutsford act was Withdrawn ana
the principle Of it surrendered. Inc coomSlS
acknowledged that so long as the treaties formally
existed they should be carried out, and the I'M
perial Government relieved OF the necessity
of taking things into its own hands by the wise
action of the Colonial Assembly. In the second
place, Lord Salisbury promised that he woulu
subject of an arbitration without the full consent
Of the colonial authorities. This was complete
abandonment of Lord knutsford's previously as
serted purpose of proceeding with the negotiation
without reference 10 the colony. 1t was now adj
mitted that the right of self-governing colony
in the British system 10 the decisive voice IN a
ouestion affecting its territorial sovereignty could
not be infringed upon. In the third place, COM
pensation was promised to every colonial factory
owner whose business was interrupted by the
r,o6us or DESTROYED az result of the
arbitration in case the decision favored the
French. These Were all valuable concessions
md the visit Of the delegation would
bave proved we'll worth while had theiT
accomplishments ended here. But theiI
great victory was won in securing an agreement
with the Government upon the principle OF o
measure for the establishment upon the French
shore Of a British court composed OF Imperial
and Colonial judges for the adjudication OF com
nloints and disputes arising under the treaties
The inheritance of this move can scarcely be over
estimated OF course IL is not supposed that INC
French will make use Of these courts. lhFy
,yiu maintain their own contentious and adopt
their own measures TO enforce them' bu1 'h'
pritisb Government denies in toto the claim OF
France that il possesses any territorial right il
Newfoundland waters. or that ii can, through
its own warshiIs enforce any of its positions
This is now the subject Of sharp controversy
between Lord Salisbury and the French Ambassa
dor here The recent performances OF the Frenci
warship Drac in st. Georges bay, when coiohi"
fishermen were driven away from American YES
sells which had called there for bait, are pronounce
nv Lord Salisbury to be an intoerable assump
zion of power There is no doubt that he mean
this, and that he will take whatever measures
are necessary 20 convince the French Govern
ment that they cannot be permitted to eAeIcis
sovereign authority over British subjects in BrtlS
seas The new courts that are to be established
are for the purpose Of defining the duties o
English naval commanders OH the one mana aii'
of colonial residents the other. The hsherme'
will no longer be subjected TO the caprice OF luds
ment Of an arbitrary naval officer. but Will IaV'