The Portland daily press., 1898-07-18
THE FRENCH SHORE.
An Explanation of the Revived Quarrel in
Newfoundland.

Yesterdays dispatches referred to the
trouble on what Is called the French shore
in Newfoundland. A Montreal despatch
gives an intelligent account of the origin
and present state Of the dispute.
1t WAS In 1885 that the French, who were
the first to utilize the fisheries of New
foundland, having 1e0 vessels there in
1877, and who had never relinquished
their efforts to gain control of it, were
given permission by England to dry fish
on the shores on the payment of duty
OF five per cent of the produce. That was
the beginning.of the French shore ques-
ton. Under later treaties France claims
exclusive jurisdiction over 500 of the 1000
miles of the islands coast line, SO far
as the fisheries are concerned, but New
foundland disputes this claim, has in fact
a population OF some 10 600 on the treaty
shore in despite of the French claims,
fights them ut every turn and only yields
to the force Of British or French war
ship. The position has been intolerable.
The French have made and enforced
regulations preventing the operation of
mines, the establishment Of any industri
al establishment or even the construction
water on the treaty shore
This barrier must and will be swept
away, say the Observation-Disclosures, in view
OF the discovery Of minerals, oil and tim
ber wealth on these shores. The French
having nothing but fishing rights cannot
develop these resources, and the only
effect of their obstruction is to leave the
shores desolate, as even the fisheries have
become Improbable. French officers have
more than once gone ashore and destroyed
lobster traps and nets of the island fish
ers. Recently in open defiance of the
treaty the French have erected permanent
buildings there, the use of which is un-
known to the Newfoundl nders. but
which give rise to the suspicion that an
attempt is being made to establish French
colonies there. The imperial government
has made formal protest, and has de-
manded the pulling down of these build
ings. but SO far without success.
The Newfoundland premier hopes to
be able to induce the imperial govern
ment to appoint commission to go into
the matter. 1t is also announced that
the British government will insist upon
the presence of consul at st. Pierre
Miquelon. This is move of some i'm
portance, and, II carried out. will lead to
dininution of the smuggling carried on
there. 1t Is argued that the refusal of
Franco to allow consul there in the past
40 OIL Opcu oFOWdl VI buo COuu C9ldDC6
undoubtedly shown to smuggling Oh the
part OF the French authorities on these
islands. Both Newfoundland and Cana
da have sound ground of complaint
against France for the manner in which
St. Pierre has been used rs base of
smuggling to the detriment of the rev.
enues. AS the smuggling operations have
been considerably checked by the vigi.
| lance of the revenue cruiser patrols main
tanned by each government the SNUG
glers have extended their business to the
New England coast. These islands were
coded to France. as the treaty reads
''de servir REGIMENT d'abrai aux
pecheurs," which, being translated, now
adays means ito serve as real refuge for
| smugglers - French liquors, tnbaccos
drugs. perfumes, etc., are brought out
here and landed su1reptitiously on the
shores of Placentia or Fortune Bay or the
Gulf of ST. Lawrence. When it is known
that the import and export trade OF the
Stands sometimes amounts to as much
as five millions of dollars. it will be seen
that this business amounts to something.
There is no reciprocity in this contraband
trade, as the customs laws are rigidly
enforced on St. Pierrs and the other is
lands by the gendarmerie colouiale, and,
by the way, English speaking people are
lot made too welcome, while the owner
of Gaspe or Tadousac- schooner who
| may or may not have shipped cargoes of
liquor there is welcomed as brother
The presence of q British consul in
such small place will least drive the
smuggling under cover, where 1t has no
need to go at present.