The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-14
STATUS is UNCERTAIN
Lodges Assertion About ST.
Pierre Is Complaining
FRANCES LAST HOLD
England Had Expected to Take
After REIMBURSEMENT.

Lodges recent assertion that the United
States should acquire st. Pierre raises
new and important issue in Anglo-Amer-
clan diplomacy. Following upon the Alas
kan award its significance cannot be mis-
taken for England has counted upon re-
Stunning possession Of these islands when
France relinquishes them. If Senator
4 Lodges invocation of the Monroe Doctrine
1 against such transfer is upheld an IN
welcome ENHANCEMENT VIII be created for
Great Britain, Canada, and Newtound-
! land
/ The name of st. Pierre commonly stands
for the three islands, including Miquelon
and Langley, twelve miles of the south
coast of Newfoundland, all that remains
! ~ France of her once vast possessions IN
! America. The area is eighty-one square
! miles. and the population about $500 Souls
nire-tenths OF who reside on St. Pierre,
the only island which possesses harbor.
! The population Of St. Pierre is swollen IN
| summer by from 6, to 5000 fishermen
| from France. who cross to fish for cod on
4 the Grand Bank, making St. Pierre their
J headquarters. ATOull4 NLlSSC Ao4't1 N~--N--N
! the Anglo-Gallc difficulty known as the
/ French shore question. Formerly the
Pierrois frequented the French short, or
/ treaty coast of Newfoundland, in large
numbers, but lately have almost aband-
| oned it for the more profitable fishery on
the Banks.
Citizens of the United States, by the
convention of 1913, enjoy equal fishery
rights on the treaty coast Of Nevfound-
land. But American fishermen. ike the
French have abandoned il for the Grand
Band industry, although 10 obtain oaIt
ice and stores for this business they must
have access 10 the neighboring Newfound-
land coast. Having no treaty rights on
the southeastern coast they can only OBJ
tain them by some agreement similar to
the reciprocity treaty of 1854. the Halifax
fishery award of 1877, or the moribund
reciprocity treaty of 1855. negotiated by
Messrs. Chamberlain and Bayard. After
the treaty was rejected, but before the
rnodus vivendi expired the Bond-Blalne
convention was arranged. for fishery re
ciprocity between the United States and
Newfoundland. Canada being excluded.
The Dominion protested, and induced the
British government to pigeon-hole the
convention for twelve years, while she
sought in vain for reciprocity herself. In
the autumn of 1902 the Bombay treaty
was arranged, but while this compact is
still before the United States senate await
ing ratification. it is generally believed
that Senator Lodge will prevent vote
He holds it TO be inimical TO the interests
Of tho New England fishermen.
Meanwhile, Canada, stirred by Chamber
lair's campaign and resentfng-th Alaskan,
award. is talking retaliation. and New
foundland. angered at the neglect her
treaty is meeting. seriously considers a
similar policy This makes an ominous
outlook for the New Euglanders who will
be seriously crippled If deprived access to
the waters where they have obtained bait
and outfits for the last decade. Only one
neutral port existed for them in the
Grand Bank region-that Of st. Pierre
Deprived of this. they would be absolutely
dependent upon Newfoundland and
Canada Since the recent visit Of King
Edward to France and the signing of the
arbitration treaty between the two coun-
tries the belief is growing that France
would be prepared to withdraw from the
treaty coast and from s.. Pierre for an
equivalent elsewhere AMI relaxation Of
the Newfoundland bait laws. Newfound-
land IS forcing a settlement so as to he rid
Of the incubus Of French interference in
the development Of her western hinter-
land. The new secretary for the colonies.
Mr. Lyttletou. who spent two months in
Newfoundland last year, fully under
stands the Colonys desires. and viii try
70 meet them. Canada. too. IS anxious
to see this problem solved. fer she wishes
70 incorporate Newfoundland with the
Dominion. England. in turn. VIII make
any reasonable sacrifice % end a corten-
tion which has brought her 70 tho verge Of
war with France more than once Al
the British interests concerned are. there
fore. tending in the direction Of a final
adjustment.
But row it appears that Senator Lodge
seeks 70 prevent the consummation Of
such project. But inasmuch as the
islands represent the only sure foothoid
for the American fishermen in these
waters II IS easy 20 understand his keen
interest IN the subject They supply him
with a card 70 play in the prospective
struggle over the Atlantic fisheries cues
ton. his idea doubtless being that II the
United States could secure the group she
would be TO a large extent independent of
Newfoundland in fishery matters An
other reason which doubtless weighs very
largely with Mr.. Lodge is that St Pierre
would become a valuable strategic pos
session for the United States. command
inr. as it does. Cabot Strait. the main .
channel between the Gulf Of St Lawrence +
and The Atlantic ocean \ transfer Of this /
stragetic OUTPOST u the United States
would be resisted bitterly. especially By 4
Canada whose interests would 5e put II T.
the greatest Jeopardy thereby Iudeed. .
when Senator Lodge made a similar claim +
TWO years ago. the then minister q JUS +
ice fer Canada. David NILS. writing n +.
the Edinburgh Review O. The Foreign +
Policy Of the United states. said
When France yielded IN q Great BTlt- f.
ain that part OF Nevfouldlsnd q which .
she had taken possession. the Islands ~ .
s.. Pierre and Miqueion. although coast .
spperdages Of Newfoundland ard form /
{ng politically a part q the main island. (
were By express treaty sttpulat.ocs a. 4
lowed. under certain restrictions. % re-
main French possessions - places o. 1
refuge FOR the French fishing vessels up
OF ;he western coast % Newfoundland 4
According 10 the new doctrine Of Senator +
Lodge. France could rot now ceLe these f.
two islands 70 Great Britain They must
become a. possession q some sovereign I
state OF North or South America when
they ceased 10 BE- French Now ! caa s2y J