Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-24
northumberland
1.-THE cowARDLY AND TREAcHERous
CONDUCT OF GREAT BRITAIN
To Apply for Admission into the Union as
state--Correspondenc Touching
Present Grievances.

Bosroy. March 23.--The Herdlds Halifax
special says the people OF Newfoundland
unite in denouncing the "cowardly and
treacherous conduct of the British Govern
mentn In coercing the province respecting
the French fishery claims. 1t says English
allegiance will be renounced and that an
appeal will be made TO the United States
for admission as q State Of the Union and
for protection.
IBy Angola American cable TO the Dispatch.]
LONDON, Eng, March 29.-The CORE.
spondence between the Governments OF
Newfoundland and Great Britain on the
proposed fishery convention between new
foundland and the United States Is pnp-
ruary. 1890, TO March, 1891. The hrst COM
munication is a letter from Sir John
O'Brien, Governor of Newfoundland, 10
Lord Knutsford. the Imperial Colonial
Secretary. in which the Governor gives the
minutes of the Newfoundland Executive
Council in favor of q separate arrange,
ment with the United States OF hshery ana
commercial questions as opposed 20 co,
operation with Canada LORD hnutsloru
on April IL, 1890, assents TO kewioundlanuss
negotiating directly with the Government
at Washington. Sir Charles Upper on
October "a, 1890, protests against the de-
parture from the old policy of treating the
fishery question as requiring unity OF action
between Newfoundland and Canada, ana
Sir John Macdonald cables that the
Dominion ought to be included IN any
arrangement. ANN
Lord Knutsford on November 4, 1890,
cables that Mr.. Bond, the Colonial oecre-
tary of Newfoundland, has no power 10
10 4ha (AnuaTnmaDt lau
communicated with Sir Julian Pauncetote
in regard TO the Dominion's desire 70 uo
included in any arrangement. Su Juilan
Pauncefote on October 10, 1890, wired that
MIR. Blaine had received Mr.. Bond unofh-
cially, and had long interview WIN MN,
the result of which was the drafting oil
convention by Sir Julian Pauncefote. "A
copy of this convention sent 70 Loru otnu-
lev. the Goyernor-General OF Canada, ellc-
tied cablegram from the Goyernor-Gen-
eral on November 18th, stating that
Canada viewed the convention with the
utmost alarm and strongly protested
against the signing OF H.,
Messages from Sir John O'Brien urge
that there be no delay in signing the con-
yention. contend that Newfoundland ought
not TO be involved in Canadian disputes,
and appeal TO the Imperial doyernment
not TO subject the colony to trading dlsaI
bilities to the advantage OF Canada; LORD
Knutsford in response holds that the con-
vention cannot be made exclusively III
Newfoundland's interests.
Finally. ON January %, 1891, Lord hnuts-
ford cables to Sir John O'Brlen that the
Imperial Government was compelled TO
maintain delay Of the ratification of the
convention. The same cable refers to the
French-shore difficulty. the depressed con-
dition of Newfoundland, and the lmpor-
lance of opening up the colony's resources,
and offers TO guarantee railway loan ana
TO send a commission TO inquire INTO Ine
resources of the colony; but adds that be-
fore applying TO Parliament to sanction
loan the Imperial Government would re-
ouire assurance that the colony would CO.
operate in adjusting the controversy WITH
France.
On February 10th the Newfoundland
Government responded that they could
not comprehend Lord Knutsford's with
drawal from q distinct and positive under
standing, declaring that the Imperial Gov,
eminent was delaying the ratification OF
the convention IN subserylence TO Canaulah
politics to ruin the prospects or the
colony, and demanding an explicit On:
syer-ves or no-in order that the fate OF
the Colony might be known aid appro--
pirate action be taken. Lord knutsford
cabled that be adhered to his decision, and
that he regretted the language which the
Newfoundland Ministers thought TT TO
use. ,
Sir John O'Brien. having sent the
resolutions of the two houses Of the New
foundland Legislature, Lord Knutsford,
in a final dispatch on March 18th, con-
tended that MIR. Bonds instructions when
in Washington in nowise implied that the
convention could then be concluded;
that Mr. Bond. without reference to Sir
Julian Pauncefote. had had several inter
views with Mr.. Blaine, the result being
remodelling of the convention as prepared
by Sir Julian Pauncefote; that Mr.. Blaine
had communicated this counterdraft to
Sir Julian Pauncefote on January 9th, and
that this fact, though known TO the New
foundland Ministers, had not been stated
to the Newfoundland Legislature. Lord
Knutsford regrets that the Legislature re-
corded an inaccurate view of the transac-
tons.