The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-05

of the French finally became so great that
last summer the Canadian Ministry brought
the matter before the home government.
and Mr.. Chamberlain appointed royal
commission to investigate the subject. The
commission has submitted its report, and
correspondent, writing from st. Johns,
Newfoundland, says:
According to this report the French seize
upon the best fishing locations round the
coast, even If the rightfui owners have to
be elected to secure them. They drive
the colonists out of the harbors IL they
themselves want TO fish there. They cut
adrift the local nets, rob the cod there
from. and destroy, in pure wantonness, both
fishing gear and boats belonging to the
settlers. IL they are themselves unable TO
Gust the natives, they summon to their aid
the British warships. which by the most
extraordinary departure from theories as
70 British fair play are employed to police
the coast In the interests of the French
fishermen. These warships tow the native
cod boats into the offing and loose them
with warning to go elsewhere, and not to
trouble the French again; they also de-
stroy the cod nets and lobster pots. and
upset the contents into the again. They
viii allow none Of the i fisher to trap
must all be sold to the French canneries
at the Frenchmen's low price. and when
the settlers do start small canneries crews
from the warships are landed to pull down
buildings, destroy the equipment and confis-
cate the canned goods.
Nor do the prosecutions of the settlers
cease here. The French interpret their
treaty rights so comprehensvely that they
cripple the whole internal development OF
to be built on the foreshore, on the ground
that II would interfere with their fishery.
They prevented the location of railway
terminus there. alleging that the whistle OF
the locomotive would drive the fish away.
They caused the stoppage OF coal mining
by the contention that the operations asso-
r. on wi haf
to relinquish fishing IN the section where the
mine was. though not a Frenchman had
landed within twenty miles OF the place
for thirty-seven years.
The world is so accustomed to hearing
Of British aggressions that it is surprising
to hear of such aggressions as these by
another power on British rights. On the
strength Of this report the British govern
ment directed new Interpretation to be
made of the rights of both parties under
| the treaty and ordered the British war
ships on that station to see that 1t was
enforced. Under an existing agreement each
power keeps three warships in Newfound-
land waters to police the fisheries and pro-
tect the rights of its subjects. Immediate
ly following the new instructions of the
British government the French government
sent two powerful modern steel cruisers
and one efficient gunboat to protect French
rights. and it's armed force in Newfound-
land waters now exceeds that Of England
No collision may occur, but the conditions
favor it. Chronic disputes OF this kind are
very apt to eliminate in war. The New
foundland fisheries are valuable in them
selves, but the most dangerous feature In
the case is that they represent an ancient
grudge and deep-rooted sentiment. The
breaking out of war between Great Britain
and France i'm American waters would
seem like a repetition of history.