The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-10
Tho Bond-Blaine Treaty.

The effort to revive the commercial
agreement arranged by Secretary BLAINE,
acting for the United States, and MIR.
ROBERT BOND, for Newfoundland, but never
yet approved by the British Government,
is very interesting.
The convention was made In 1890, and
under 1t Newfoundland was to have her
fish and fish products, except Goldfish not
dried, admitted into our ports free of duty.
In return our vessels were to be allowed to
buy bait In Newfoundland waters, and also
to "touch and trade in those waters on
the same terms as the fishing vessels Of the
colony. Finally, in Article ~. of the
treaty, certain classes of goods Of the
United States are specified as to be ad-
mitted to Newfoundland free Of duty and
certain others to be admitted at not more
than specified rates.
When that agreement was made, an out
cry arose against 1t in the Dominion Of
Canada. At St. Johns, also, there was some
opposition, on the ground that N%ewfound-
and would not derive enough benefit from
1t. But In Canada the protest was put on
the ground that a British colony was nego-
tiating with a foreign country to the detri-
ment Of a sister colony. and with the pur-
pose Of obtaining a commercial advantage
over the latter. This protest was, In fact,
effectual, the refusal Of the Imperial Gov
eminent to sanction the Bond. Blaine treaty
being actually put upon the grounds urged
by the Dominion.
Quebec dispatches, however. have said
that Sir WILLIAM WHITEwAY Is now in
England urging imperial assent to this
Bond-Biain agreement Of 1890. The
closing articles Of the convention provided
that 1t should take effect as soon as Con-
gress, the British Parliament, and the New
%foundland Legislature should pass the laws
needed to carry 1t into effect. 1t was
further provided that the convention should
be ratified by the President and Senate and
by Queen VICTORIA, and the affiliations
exchanged at Washington on Feb. l, 1891,
or las soon thereafter as practicable"
Hence it Is urged that, although hitherto
the British Government has withheld its
assent, there Is nothing to prevent the
treaty from being revived and made effec-
tive by procuring that assent, and by the
due ratification Of the President and the
Senate. 1t is further urged that the inter-
ests of Newfoundland ought not to be sub
ordinated to those OF the Dominion, and
that the latter has enjoyed a full share of
imperial favor, as shown, for example, in
Great Britain's risk of trouble with us
in the Behring Sea matter, in the interests
of the Victoria ~sealers.
Whether anything will come of this
effort to resuscitate an almost forgotten
agreement, it may not be easy to say. The
general principle on which the imperial
authorities refused their assent to it seven
years ago apparently holds good now, and
is even strengthened, perhaps, by the cur
rent movement in favor of colonial union
under the empire. Yet, If the dispatches
can be trusted, Sir WILLIAM WHITEwAY
has hopes Of procuring the consent of
the imperial authorities to the agreement.
Be this as 1t may, we have a reminder
in this reported errand Of Newfoundland's
Premier, that the interests Of Newfound-
land are felt to be largely allied with those
of our own country. OF this fact and of
the sympathy existing between the island
and the United States proofs were given
years ago, when our fishermen received
licenses for the purchase of bait in New
~foundland waters at a time when the
Dominion fishermen could not procure
them. We may look forward to the time
when not only Newfoundland but Canada,
moved by sympathy and interest, will join
fortunes with our great republic.