The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-17
More threatening Than Egypt.

INl Newfoundland as q source
OF unpleasantness between
France and England Is all Greek to
most Americans. simply because We
have not informed ourselves as to the
relations of the two powers to territory
directly of u own coast. Newfound-
land has been the topic for consider
able lively talk OF late among English
statesmen: the other day. Sir Charles
Dixie. who Is up on the English coll
onies remarked that. in his opinion,
Newfoundland presents a more serious
question than Egypt.
The case is worth stating. France
owns two islands. Miquelon and st.
Pierre. OF the southwest coast of New
foundland and France also has the
right to land n cure fish on certain
points OF the mainland. Now md then
absolute French ownership OF the So
called French Shore" while on the
other hand the Newfoundland author
titles are inclined to deny French fisher
men the exercise Of their treaty rights.
More than once a clash of authority
that threatened to become a clash of
arms has been but narrowly averted.
Within the present year the French
shore" question has reached an acute
stage.
One factor In the case is Newfound-
lands complete independence Of the do
minion OF Canada. Many efforts nave
been made to change this relation by
bringing Newfoundland into c~onfeder-
alton with the dominion. but these have
uniformly failed. Yet the government
ritory would be the serious sufferer in
case of trouble with France relative TO
Newfoundland. The recent talk in Can
ada is like thai which was heard IN
this country when there was a passing
dread Of a visitation to our coast cities
by Spanish war ships.
The fact is pointed out that one az
least OF the French islands is strongly
fortified and that. I'm case of wal be-
tween England and France. IL would be
possible for the French to seize st.
Johns. Newfoundland: St. John. New
Brunswick: Charlottetown. p. +. l.. and
other points along the North American
coast. Not long ago the French choco-
late manufacturer. NJ. Menier. bought
the large island of Anticosti, in the Gulf
fortifying IL. There is a suspicion that
he Is acting as an agent Of the French
government. and that in case of hostil-
titles the island would be turned yer
to that government, when 1t would Ef-
ford an excellent s~trategfcal position
for a fteet commanding the entrance
to the st. Lawrence river.
Canadians whom this whole matter
disturbs W. recently been quoted sip
newspaper interviews in which they
profess themselves disquieted by the
fact hat the seafaring population OF
France numbers about 5000. OF which
fully one-third are scattered along the
western shores of Newfoundland, ready
at any m to recruit the crews CT
a French squadron that might come
there undermined. and thus enable IT
to remove without delay against The
British American ports.
The story told of the manner in which
St. Pierre has been a strong military
and naval position In spite OF treaty
prohibition. Is as follows: The treaty
between France and Great Britain. con
cluded early In the present century,
forbade France fortifying st. Pierre or
keeping a larger guard there than fifty
soldiers. When the Crimean war broke
out and France became an ally of Great
Britain against Russia. the French gov
eminent obtained permission to fortify
st. Pierre. and instead Of fifty soldiers
1t has kept as many as 1000 troops
there.