The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-07
NEWFOUNDLAND'S CLAIMS.
HER DEMAND 10 BE HEpRESESTED ar,
YifE QUEBEC CONFERENCE.

Trouble brewing with Ca~nRda-Power oi
the COLONY to Block Any Fisheries Agree
mcnt Reached by tho Commlsslon-New
foundlRnd's altitude to the United States,
sT. JOINS, y. u. Aug. All the elements
Tor q bitter quarrel between Canada and New
foundland aro now present. The cause Of the
trouble II the attempt made by Canada to pre-
vent Newfoundland from having representation
on the International Commission which IL TO
meet at Quebec 10 discuss tho settlement OF
the difficulties between the United States and
Canada cwfoundland As soon as It becnme
known that such u commission was In pros
peCA The Government ~ this colony applied 20
the imperial authorities for recognition. but
this request was treated with the indifference
which this colony has ever received from the
mother country. The fact that Newfoundland
had asked to be represented was, 1t is true.
made known to the Canadian Cabinet. which
ridleuled this prctcnsion, as II was regarded.
on the part Of the island colony. and all the ar
rungcmcnts Were concluded regardless Of New
foundland's attitude.
About this time the Newfoundland Govern
mont had occasion 10 despatch the Premier and
Finance Master. Sir James Winter. and the
Hon. A. II. Mortne. to London as u delegation 10
confer with the Secretary for the Colonies. Mr..
Chamberlain. with regard to securing II royal
commission of inquiry into the French shore
question, and in connection with that mission
they formulated a demand for representation
at the Quebec conferences. At first the Colonial
Secretary declined to consider their demand.
pointing out that all the negotiations had been
completed and that any attempt to change the
arrangement might result inl the collapse OF
the project. But they insisted very strongly
that the colony was as deeply interested in the
fishery questions to be settled by the confer
ance aS Canada wGs, and that il Newfuund-
land was not represented, tho Ncwfound-
land Legislature would not pass the enabling
act necessary 10 put into effect in New
foundland territory any treaty or convention
arranged by the conferences. This nonplusscd
MIR. Chamberlain. who. like all other British
Politician. knows the Observation-Disclosures TO be II
stiff -neGked race and able to use their rights as
q seIf-RoYcrning colony to block every diplo-
matio arrangement which does not do justice to
them, Tho Secretary for the Colonies. there
fore. turned them over TO Lord Strathcona. the
Canadian High Commissioner in London. and
to tho Hon, Messrs. Blair, Mulock. Fisher and
Fitzpatrick, members of the dominion Cabinet.
who were also there on official business. These
gentlemen were not very cordial. untilthe New
foundland delegates demonstrated the power
full position the colony occupied in relation to
the fisheries and how easy 1t would be for the
Newfoundland Legislature to render valueless
s'O hNpSAS " A"N ~ ADll W pC
bound by any arrangement concluded by
1t. TIL Canadians then communicated with
their colleagues at Ottawa. who suggested to
them to offer Newfoundland u place among the
British Canadlan counsel occupied in the case.
This offer was really made by Mr.. Chamber
lain, but the delegates at once rejected IL.
Every effort was made to induce them to agree
to 1t; it was pointed out that the commission
was hlled. that further negotiations were i'm
---.I -
conference. that any efforts to reopen the mat
tor might result in the United States abandon
ing the conference. and that in the present har-
monious relations with the Americans it was
very desirable to advance matters to u
conclusion as speedily as possible IN or
der to secure the ratification by the
United States Senate OF any arrangement
arrived at. But the delegates were not to be
swayed. They had asserted their position and
were determined to stick to it. and Secretary
Chamberlain had ultimately to propose to
President Mckinley the addition of a sixth
member on each side to the commission in
order to enable Newfoundland TO be repre-
scented. This the President cordially agreed
70 and named Mr.. II. Jefferson Coolidge OF
Boston as the sixth representative OF the United
States. At present it is not definitely known
who will be the representative OF Newfound-
land. so the colony will have the place after all.
The colonY's spokesman would probably be
either Sir James Winter orthe Hon. Mr. Morine.
probably the former. as he Is still in London
carrying on negotiations.
That Newfoundland was not claiming too
much In demanding representation at Quebec
will be readily perceived by those who under
stand the situation. One Of the most impor-
tant questions to DO considered will be that OF
the control OF the Atlantic coast fisheries. The
1nan-QnA Hahnrinl nrpGnnutnI on thn Grnuh
Banks and in the waters OF the Gulf of st. Law
renee are, OF course. open to all nations, but In
order to engage In them successfully one has
to depend upon the bait fishes which frequent
the shore. Newfoundland controls this bait
supply, for it il in her waters that herring and
squid, the best bait. are taken in the
largest quantities and for the longest pc
rod herring being 2btainable in our
Late in the spring and Tor a couple Of months
II summer herring 4re 10 be had along the
Nova Scotia and, Care Breton coasts and, AZ the
Magdalen Islands. but the rcmoteness Of these
regions from the seat Of the main fisheries
AL the fshermen who ply their vocation in the
Nortm Atlantic, no matter What thor national
NJ s;w ftSyG ia adeP Snit s i9r EheiF Ey success s,nG 9n the he
eontelnporary history Knows Of, the famous
Bait act PASSED by the Newfoundland Legisla-
selling bait to the French at st. Pierre
The act was enforced by a fleet OF cruisers, and
u'hioSl ulhtu lhp Iltllcl IblIlkS ISntfy. InlS
year so rigorous has been tho bait patrol that
the French have had to take along TO the Banks
the lleSh OF horses and other animals with
which TO catch periwinklos to use as bait. and
the 81. Pierre fishery this year will not be more
Than one-third Of the normal; This situation
Indicates tho immense value the possession Of
this bait supply will he to Newfoundland in
making terms In the approaching conference,
son for trying tp bluff Newfoundland out Of III
rect representation ON the ommission, namely,
The fear that II Newfoundland secured q place
Shere0n the colony. would obtain. very much
peter terms from The AMERICANS for tho privi-
the Canadians could for the trininG CONFESSIONS
they have 10 offer the United States fishermen,
Under the existing modus. yivendi the United
States Fishermen have the right to enter Cana
dian and Newfoundland waters on payment OF
q license fee Of Sl,0O for each registered ton,
and 70 obtain bait and supplies on equal terms
with the fishermen Of these countries. That
means, in reality, that tho United States fisher
their vessels with the quantity they need; but
as, that would. neCGssitate bringing special
nAAI n and 4H I-