New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-15
men who conceived and carried into execution
the project now so auspciousy started.
DTpIOMATIC M1EESHTFT.

Lord Salisburys arrangement with VI. ElDot
To arbtrate the question, is any one entitled
N catch HOLSTERS along the so-called French
shore OF Newfoundland and, if so, who - Is, OF
itself if not concession TO France at least an
admission of his failure to obtain basis Gf ne
ootiation from which a solution of the colony's
troubles would be possible. No matter what
answer the arbitrator may give 70 that ques-
ton. it will not satisfy the colony LoDsters
have long since become secondary cohsiuefl-
lion 70 the Newioundlandeis II. TWO years
ago. when the lobster trouble added that maj
straw 70 NewfoundlandS burdens when broke
its hack, and led to the violent agtauonS that
have since so often cOnyulSed the lSlah1-n
tbcn Lord Salisbury had obtained an arbltratorS
Indictment confirming the coonyS CLAIMS pubhc
sor,;mont would have been softened and prob
oblv satisfied But. realizing that the lobster
trouble is only one of hundred DINER troubles
which have arisen and must continue TO arse
so long as the Treaty OF Versailles remains
lucrative. the people arc now bent upon the
absolute release of their coasts from iofeish
claim. This has been their ore cry. Both
nartes. all the leading men and all the news
nonors have Joined in the demand that the
French shall Quit and go. To attempt to satisfy
what is q hunger for liberty. for the Sovereg nty
of their own shores. with Judgment permitting
Them 10 catch few Holsters is absurdIy futile.
Moreover, such a judgment Is impiooqDle'
No disntorostcd reader of history can doubt
that the French fishing privileges along that
line of coast are according to the treaties sub
stantial and not subject to British competition
or interference of any kind. The French, 1t Is
true. are limited in their operations TO the con-
duct of codfShery. and this the arbitrator
will certainly saw The colonial argument that
tbo French cannot catch or can HOLSTERS Is I'M
pregnable: but equally strong. as resting on
nrecisolv the same grounds. is the French argyll
mont that tho colonists are also inhibited II
tho treaties mean any thing, they mean that. al
though the French have no rights OF sovereignty
over the shore indicated, and can Use 1t only
for the purpose of curing and drying inc hSh
caught in its waters. in that employment they
are 10 he free from all competition ana all an
novance. and the shore and its waters may NOT
he so employed by the British rs to impair the
value of the fishery. 1t is possible that these
| forms NAV admit the English to fishing PRIV
;Ieoos. but il is certain that they will tolerate
nothing more than that, and that only upon
improbable conditions. To give another con-
struction 70 these impossible treaties, which, II
they did not involve other matters, would be
capable of abrogahon at any time on the mere
fact that their terms are no longer possible Is
TO add to the coonsts' gricfs rather than 10
| asSuage them.
1t is easy TO blame Lord Salisbury for con-
senting to this makeshift. but he is more to be
commiScratod than blamed. Those French
statesmen are Shrcwd and strong, and they kno"
when they hold an advantage. They neither
want the French shoTe nor use II. lhelr catcn
of goldfish would not be one more or less whether
they gave up the shore or held il. But they
know its worth to the coloniSS; they know then
bitter temper they know Newfoundland value
| 70 the British North American Empire al Uihey
have some interests in Europe and Africa when
English gold and English guns coldly menace
They are not TO he blamed if they keep Ing
land dancing at the end of the French shore
string as ling as they can, nor II they hnally
make a price for their rights as high as New
foundlands anxiety.