Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-21

| Emerald, att3cncu 10 tne DtiiiHh
North American squadron, and while
performing his duties which included 70
| some extent the prevention OF euCToach-
| ments on the French by British subjects,
be in June last seized and closed the lobster
| factory in st. Georges bay owned and Ope-
rated by Mr. Baird, who is British sub
ject, on the ground that he was oncroach-
inc on the treaty rights Of the French.
Nlr Baird instituted proceedings against
Captain Walker for wrongful seiznre Of
hIs property.
CosTDoNIsR REJECTED.
When tho suit was first brought Captain
| Walker hintcl at q compromise, but Mr..
Baird was fqhtinp for principle and was
| determined TO yiudcate his rights as q
Observation-Disclosures in court. The only pro-
position To which he wouli listen was that
the Government OF Great Britain should
acknowledge that ho could pursue the
l0bstor-cauuing industry whom and where
he pleased. As q matter Of fact the home
| government could make no such acknov
| iedglncrt being restrained from so doing by
the ,po9,is ricendi II force between Great
| Britain and France The Crown then set
| up the plea that Captain Walkers acts rs q
naval officer under orders were privileged.
This was held to be q pTeposterous claim
| and the Government rcceded from IFS po-
| sitiOn and then asserted that he was act
lux uINtt lAt treaty u Wi sfIlAi'5. 80
James Ninlcv, counsel for Mr. Baird,
showed that the act Of Parliament which
/ made this treaty binding upon British
subjects Lad been inadvertently repealed.
MUCH DIPLOMATIC couGEsPoyDENcE
followed this discovery. the home govern
! ncnt seeking 20 obtain nc passage OF on Gct
Iy tho Newfoundland Government which
| would have the same eject as the repealed
| nc,. rs the existence Of such q law would
| have enabled tie British Government TO
| make q good defence aralnst 4lr. Bard's
| suit. But without that law-and the
| Newfoundland Lecislature declined 10
pass such an act-the British Government
! was in the position Of having restrained q
| British subject from pursuing on British
soil a legitimate calling. Consequently
| the defence vas compelled 10 retire from
tins position also, and was forced 10 60
| into court with the sole answer to Mr..
Haird's complaint that the m0dlps cirendi
| had been lawfully arranged and lawfully
| enforced
ROW IT INTERESTS AMERICANS.
! The point Of interest in the case to
Americans was that Lord Salisbury, by the
| only defence he could make in his suit.
practically asserted TINT he had the right
| - restrain Newfoundiau1ers from pUrsu-
| inc business on British soil while ne de-
MED 10 the United States Government in
! the Bering-Sea negotiations that he could
| lestrain Canadians from pursuing on the
! high seas an occupation identically similar
| in ',s legal aspects.
How the court looked upon the Prime
Niuistcr'a claim Is evidenced By the YER
| dict.
| TGANCT's TIsEING RIGHTS.
| Jovnov. March 20.-Lord Knutsford's
! hin reyivcs tho Crowns authority TO in
struct naval officers TO enforce the treaties
| o. Utrecht Versailles. and Paris securing
/ fishing rights 30 France. 4 clause pro-
! = des that ifthc Colonial Legislature suU-
! plies the nerC eearv powers 20 secure the
/ performance Of tho trfatiee upon he inter
| national arrangement before the bill Is
/ passed the bill will be suspended.
AcoNTEsmoS oFFAmUEE.
The Daiy Nl,rs thinks this Is an extra
J ordinary proposal which may bring q
| hornets nest around the Governments
/ cars. II is anxious not 20 enhaTrass the
/ Government III tho delicate and diticult
4 question, but II feels bound 70 remark that
/ the bill Is an open confession OF failure IN
| Newfoundland.
/ DOES NEWFOUNDLAND PROPOSE TO TIGHT
TRAScE2
Tho C7niGrd saws: Were the position
! created by the Baird Judgment tolerated
/ our treaties would be waste paper. and
/ either our mon-of-war would be pratical
/ iunEs or the cntcrurising people Of New
! foundland would b. left to try conclusions
with the French marines. We trust that
! the report that the Government did not
| inform the colony that such n bill was con-
! templated is incorrect, and that the colo
! nists will behave sens;blv in the matter.
| Do they believe that they can fight France
| sinGle-hended?
mo 'TEATALGAE-sQuAEE' DUsyEss"
LoyDov. March 2o.-Tbe P1l-NaH Ga7c'fe
| t0-9Gy gives great prominence to com
munication from q Centlcm2n who Occu-
pies q position Of influence IN hewtound-
! land and who is now IN this city. In this
communication the EewfounlGnder de-
| Clare5 that any ATTEMPT on the part Of the
Imperial Govern rment - enforce martial
law in Newfoundland viii be resisted. add
ing: Tho Tories cannot come the Ira
falgar-Square' business over u.s.
TIE EI1ILK OF Y1sH AND rHR BOSTON TEA
PARTY.
At the conclusion of g long leading edi-
torial upon the subject the Pd,l-AaN CARTE
saws: Unless something is done quickly
TO bring about a rappToachement between
the colonies and the Colonial Office we
nav find that the Newfoundland kettle of
fish will 20 the way Of the Boston packets
OF tea"
RESOLUTIONS FROM TIT COLONIAL LEG1sLT
TyRE.
LONDON. March 2o-In the House Of
Commons to-day O dispatch from St.
Johns, n. T.. was read. The dispatch |
transmitted 90 the ImDerial Government
the resolutions adopted by the Colonial
Legislature, requesting England TO delay
any coercive legislation until the colony
has been heard 10 its defence. The cable
message transmits the resolutions in full
and is signed bv the President Of the Le-
gislative Council and the Speaker Of the
House Of Assembly Of Newfoundland.
OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.
Mr.. William Henry Smith. First Lord Of !
the Treasury. commenting upon the dis /
patch, said that it touched upon nquestion Z,
az great importance and on behalf OF the |
Government he WAS unwilling 70 give |
basty answer. As il was Alr. Smith had !
been unable 10 confer with his colleagues, |
as the dispatch had only been received to-
day. II was entitled to the utmost con-
Gderasion.
THE LIBERALS WITH NEvFOUEDLAED.
SirJ.P z. Henuessy intended tonight TO
move an adjournment in order 20 immedi-
ately challenge the Government policy, !
bet was induced 70 POSTPONE his motion |
until Mr. Smith has presented the state !
next. Lord KimbeTley's partial assent 70 |
Lord Knutsforps proposed measure does !
not represent either the feeling OF, the
Liberals or the policy OF the Liberal lead |
ers. Ihe tenor of communications |
exchanged to-day by. Nr. Clad |
stone. Mr.. Morley, and other Ilbe-
rals points TO strenuous opposition |
on behalf Of the Newfoundland Govern |
weut. and bad Hennessy moved to adjourn !
bo would have had q following sufficiently |
atrong 20 show The Government the opin- |
ION al Parliament setting against the bill |
as n TOO stringent measure. II MJaSmith's ;
reply on Monday does not meet the wishes
~ the Liberals the Government viii have
70 faea. In addition 20 the Parliamentary |
resistanee. strong pressure amongst the
conservatives TO cOncede the delay which !
me Newfoundland Legislature asks before !
passing the bill.
TaE CONVENIENT WILL AWAIT TfsE prLEGAlEs-
: Lobby forecasts tonight agree that the
covsynfuent will pause until the dele
Sates OF the Newfoundland Legislature