The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-15
DOMINION sCRlMMAGEs.

1 @@iAV AS - EASSSy AWAY S-NS -
raging at present between the govern
ments at Ottawa and st. Johns. Miss
!, Newfoundland is loud in her complaints
that her dignity has been outraged. and
Dame Canada has passed from her first
position Of remonstrant dignity to an
attitude that indicated 3 fairly passion
ate desire to spank the offender. Do
mestic jars are not, as y rule, OF more
than local interest, but the present dis
agreement affects American interests SO
vitality that the story Of the rupture will
bear the telling.
To begin at the beginning, the New
foundland government entered some
time ago upon negotiations with tho au-
thorities at Washington regarding fish
cry and other trade affairs, Matters
had progressed SO far that a protocol
had been drawn up between Messrs.
Blaine and Bond--the latter the repre-
sentative Of the island government
when British interference quashed the
whole proceedings. Tt is not denied
that the intervention of the home gov
eminent was brought about by negotia-
tions from Ottawa. 1t is true that Can
ada based her protest against New
foundland's action on the plea Of loyalty
to common interest and the desirabllity
of joint action between the several por-
tions of British North America, but the
sentiment had no weight with the angry
islanders. They beloved that they had
not entered upon the negotiations in
dispute without adequate authority
from the home government, and the be-
lief intensified the feeling that Now
foundland was simply being offered up
on the altar of Canadian whims or in
terests. $ @5
As actual matter Of fact, the protocol
that had been drawn up did not meet
with the appreciation of the authorities
at st. Johns. IL Canada had held her
hand, it is more than probable the en-
tire negotiations would have fallen
through, or, at least, that important
notifications would have been consid-
cred necessary to acceptance. But in
their Indignation the islanders were not
prepared to halt for difficulties. They
promptly conferred upon American
fishermen the right to purchase bait in
Newfoundland ports without a license,
a right among the most important in the
dead protocol, from our American point
of view, Canadian fishermen, however,
were compelled to pay license fees, as
they had formerly done, and in some in
stances were prevented from buying
bait at all. This was a hardship that
fell with peculiar severity upon the
Nova Scotians, and their legislature,
finding expressions Of regret and re-
monstrance Of no avail, at length APP
pealed to Ottawa for redress.
The Canadian authorities, in justice
it should be said, we're slow to move in
the direction Of retaliation. No doubt,
they had their reasons, among them,
possibly, the hope Of some day seeing
Newfoundland enter the dominion. So
they began by an appeal against the
bait act as unconstitutional, but were
ruled out of court. An attempt to per-
suade the Observation-Disclosures to submit
the validity of the vexed measure to the
imperial priyy council met with no bet
ter SUCCESS. Meantime the Nova Sco-
tians had become more and more i'm
Fortunate, and Canada struck the first
blow by restoring the duty on all New
f~oundland fish landed in the dominion.
The duties have already been levied at
Halifax. Newfoundland was not slow
to retaliate. The legislature promptly
restored a law that placed upon Can
adam imports a far heavier duty than
that which which was levied upon sim
liar goods from other countries. So the
matter stands at present, but both par
ties have by no means exhausted their
fighting capacity. In the meantime
American trade is benefited, and Amer
lean fishermen are enjoying a privilege
that they have coveted for a long time
Success to both.