The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-07
NEEFoUNDLAND,s DEarAxD.
The Bearing OF the French Fishery Qucs-
ton Upon AnElo-Americnn Relations.


ton Upon A~nElo-Americnn Relations.
MONTREAL, July 1.-The action OF the New
~foundland Government in demanding the right
TO send a delegate to the commission to regu-
late the differences between Great Britain in
connection with Canada and the United States
is causing some embarrassment at Ottawa.
A little time before the decision was arrived
at by tho Laurier Government to try and bring
about the settlement OF the difficulties between
Canada and the United States. the Newfound-
land Government made overtures looking to
the entry OF the island into the Canadian Con-
federation. but as that would have made Can
ada a party to tho very troublesome DISPUTE
about the French fishing rights on the New
foundland coast, they were rejected, 1t was
then suggested from the British Colonial ONCE
that the next best thing to do would be for the
Newfoundland Government to ask the British
Government to appoint q royal commission to
inquire into tho affairs OF the colony. including
the French fishing rights. Lord Salisbury.
whose hands we're full Just at that moment
with the settlement OF the Niger and West
African disputes, peremptorily declined to en-
tertain the proposition. thus leaving the per-
sistcnt Observation-Disclosures no nearer the attain
ment of their object.
The agreement recently reached relative to
the Anglo-American Commission. which it is
hoped will meet at Quebec toward the end of
the present month, has, however, given the
Observation-Disclosures another opportunity, and
they have demanded q place with the British
and Canadian Commissioners at the confer
ence. and their determination to
force a discussion OF the French fishing rights
with a view to their abrogation. For the Lau-
rier Government, dependent as It ia for It's ex-
istence on its majority in the French province
OF Quebec, the situation is exceedingly deli
cate. and 1 learn from Ottawa that the feeling
In some quarters there Is that 1t would be bet
ter that there should be no conference at all for
the present than that Newfoundland should be
allowed to come into it with an apple OF racial
discord for the Dominion in its hand.
There Is no question more likely to kindle
tho flames OF war between England and France
than abrupt or hasty action In regard to q right
which every French Government regards as OF
inestimahle value to France. The French New
foundland fisheries are the great training
school from which the French Navy draws its
hardest and best seamen. and the equivalent
that would be demanded in return for their sur
render would be something very large indeed;
while 1t Is absolutely certain that the abroga-
ton OF rights enjoyed ever since the treaty OF
Utrecht In the last century in the way wanted
by Newfoundland would be treated by France
as an act OF war.
Sir Charles Dixie. who no doubt had oppor-
tunltles Tor acqualnting himself with the de-
tails OF the subject when Under Secretary to
Lord Granville at the British Foreign Office, had
always predicted that any war between Eng
land and France would be over the Newfound-
land fisheries. If grounds for a quarrel with
France were wanted there is no point where
they could be found more favorable to England
from the international point OF view. No other
European power would be interestedin helping
France to preserve an exclusive right. while at
the British Colonial Office there appears to be a
belief that England would have the full SYM
pathy, II not active help. Of the United States In
causing another European Continental flag to
disappear from the American Continent.
The question. therefore,. whether Newfound-
land. with herdemands for the abrogation ofthe
French fishing rights, is to havea place at the
approaching Anglo-American conference at
Quebec, becomes a matter of international i'm
p%ortance. Anything likely to stir up strife be-
tween England and France would be reflected
Immediately here. where the racial sympathy
with France is still strong. though there is no
desire apparent for political connection. Attic
same time, the loyalty of the French Canadians
to the British flag would be strained to the ut
most. and the results of a war between the two
mother countries Of the Canadian people. no
matter what they were. whether in favor Of
France or England. would leave the two races
embittered against each other for at least a
generation.
1t is the appreciation of this fact that Is caus-
ing the embarrassment at Ottawa OF which I
have spoken.