New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-22
THE FRENCH SHORE AGAIN.

Newfoundland is again the scene Of menace 10
the Pax Britannica. The old trouble of the
French Shore is upon the point OF becoming
acute. At present ALI is quiet for the fishing
season is over for the year. The French fisher
men have departed, and so have the British
warships which were sent thither, curiously
enough. TO protect French rghts-or to support
French claims which may or may not mean the
same thing. But the Frenchmen will return
and SO will the British fishermen And the
serious feature of the case is that with the end
of this present year the modus vlyendi expires,
so that unless that interesting convention is re-
newed the new fishing season will open under
entirely new conditions, and conditions, we may
add. in which friction If nothing worse will be
inevitable.
Under the modus vvendi the number Of fish
ing establishments on the coast was strictly
limited Last year the French had fifteen and
the British forty-nne lobster packing factories,
and no others were permitted. If any one
opened another It was quickly confscated by
the warshlps But in the absence of the modus
there will be no such restriction. Any one may
set up a factory. The Frenchmen before leaving
marked out the sites of a considerable number
which they proposed TO open up next spring.
But Frenchmen are not permitted to spend the
winter on the coast, and that fact will enable
the British to get 10 the scene first in the spring
The result will be that there will be 'claim
jumping" galore, with the natural accompani-
ment of bad blood. Those portions Of the coast
which the Frenchmen have come 10 regard as
their own exclusive ground will be invaded by
the British. And the coast will be so crowded
that there will be incessant trespassing by one
or another upon the territory which some one
else thinks he has the better right to occupy.
This trying state of affairs may be obviated in
one of two ways The modus vivend may be re-
newed before the new season opens. That seems
improbable, however, for that arrangement has
long been odious to the British colonists, and
there is no indication that the Colonial Govern
ment is DESTROYS Of mourning additional Odium.
The alternative is for the Colonial Office or the
Foreign Office at London to make some bargain
with France by which tho latter's claim upon
the coast will be relinqushed. The present
time, however, is scarcely opportune for that
French feeling toward the British Colonial Sec
rotary is not cordial The enbarrassments Of
Great Britain in South Africa too, will be re-
garded by the more aggressive Of Frenchmen as
affording an opportunity for stifiiy unfolding II
not actually increasing French claims. For Mr.
Chamberlain TO undertake negotiations upon this
subject al this time. in addition to his vast per
plexltes in Africa, might well tax even that YER
satile and energetic statesman to the utmost of
his strength. Yet such task must be under
taken sooner or later. In no other way can this
vexing question be permanently laid to rest.
And il may be that this will be found after ALL
the best time for 1t. When one scrap OF old
metal goes into the melting pot It may be the
part Of wisdom TO tumble all the rest in after ii
and finish the whole job