New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-24
A TREATY In SUSPENSE.
The Newfoundland Fish Question Is
Still UnSolUed.

g Johns, y r. July 20 CspeciaD-The cables
= s... hay. made II appear that there is . serious
-, VIII, regard to the ratification by France Of
- now Anglo-GalIic treaty, signed last April.
o,1ag TO difficulties that have arisen respecting
,-,-g,r5ndlard This IS not surprising here New
--s,s-d had a real grievance in that clause OF the
.ao,v which provided ;hat the fishery should
- IN october 20 in each year This provision.
,.srsed as it is understood here, 10 apply 10 the
--e,cn alone was really so ambiguous that hos
r French Cabinet could at any time bring Eng
- "a the verge oS by insisting upon its being
rI,e6 70 all parties" That would embrace net
rv British subjects, hut also American citizens
,nsse having obtained equal fishing rights on the
saaboard by the Treaty Of 1878
ctr Robert Pond, the Premier therefore deter
,,-sa when invited TO England last month, 10
esis- n framing the regulations for policing the
$50, coast and preventing the smuggling OF Tner-
chandise and liquors into Newfoundland, TO safe
,..-5 tire rights Of the PEOPLE here and 70 pre-
- any trouble with the Americans BY securing
~ pneJuivoca! declaration putting an end TO all
,,n,erta.n ty on this point This might be done by
a, exchange Of notes between the Two high con-
icing parties or the inclusion OF 4 clause IN the
,-ooosed regulations 20 the same effect. When
-,r,zed llz England and France This would have
re same practical result il incorporated in the
treaty
The French also had a grievance-that the pro-
vision as regards their obtaining bait was not as
,,ts-ai as they had expected The only people IN
800 m the French side Of this treaty are the
.5sring interests Of Brittany and Miquelon. which
q out the fleets that trawl on the Grand Banks
8. Rfslo Ind St Pierre really dictate French pol
a. On this Newfoundland question. and in this IN
~,snce ST Malo and -. Pierre seem 10 have been
.rrh- napDinE. For years past. since the disas-
+-ous effects Of the Bait act have been shown upon
their catch they have beer insisting that its re-
neal should a sine qua non in any set1eHleN'
of the French Shore question. and Newfoundland
failure 10 asree 10 TINS has always proved the
stumbling block hitherto.
To Illustrate the attitude OF the MaIohihA an
Perrais IS 70 the importance OF the bait auesH"i'
II IS only necessary quote the following con-
ditI6ns hich the French fishing interests deemed
essential IN am settlement from a memorandum
submitted last year 10 NJ Delcasse by NJ Lsgasse'
who represents 81. Pierre in the French CHAMBER
OF Deputies. and whose headquarters are - MAO
FYrst-TEe Bait act must be repealed. -,
Secocd-NeWto -L1laLd fishermen must De AZ NJ
& Pierrs Or On rbe fishing banks. free from any
duties or restrictions y any Alno- ,,,. o.. .,,.s
balt in he territorial waters OF Newfoundland
FoG 5r5 bal; boats to be free from all
F5frb~43 i5denlnity to the owners Of the sloops
sa bJ ,ba A Freaeh y! 1S By the Newfound
land authorities for smuggling out bait ..
French asEing establishments on the French
seventh-An indemnity to the fishermen fire.
F5gbI5-A ger eTa' pecuniary indemnity Of which
a sum Of 2000e0o francs $4,000 should be trans
ferred by the French government 70 me a"Lnos
ites Pierre, 10 be used n establishing nus
SCI beds rs bait reserve improving me haEo3rs
and otherwise assisting the local fishing popaia-
lion.
When II Is remembered that these eight propo-
Eitions represented the OF the fish merchants
and catchers at 81. Pierre and that only one OF
Them (oIo s. was made effective IN the new treaty.
n is easy To understand how the little town re-
ceived il. The instrument was execrated. and 50
were those who framed il. ST. Pierre metaphor
calIy threw of its allegiance 10 France. Public
meetings were called. the excitsbe populsce grew
treuzied in denunciations and the midget newspap-
ers grew hystericaI the sacrifice Of the French
fisheries. This feeling communicated itself 10
Brittany, where there was 4 substantial agitation
set or foot. The delegates OF al the departments
IL that part of France formed themselves into
group pledged 10 defeat ratification unless con-
sessions were given.
The French government therefore found itself
facing grave situation when IL offered the treaty
70 the Senate fer its Endorsement, and proposals
poured il from every quarter with view 10
Inodih caiiols. The British government secured
sts ratification by Parliament without difficulty.
and summoned the conference in London pre-
scribed IN the treaty, 10 frame the policing and
EaU-sHuggling regulations. France sought. In
ziew Of this. reopen the question and frame
new clauses whereby her subjects could secure
larger bait privileges, Offering various concessions
IL retsrn- Newfoundland. however. was unbend-
sng IN her adherence TO her Bait act which Is
not surprising when II IS remembered that France
subsidies her hsherfolk with bouaties equal TO 70
per cent Of the value Of the fish itself augmer-
taton that enables them 70 underseH tie New
foundland fishermen who have bCuntles. The
French cannot obtain bait In any amount at Mtqus-
lon and. like the Americans and Cana dams must
depend on Newfoundland for X OF go without
These TWO issues-the October 20 cause the
one side and the Bait modification the other
have produced the ENHANCEMENT which now forms
the subject Of many cable dispatches. There
are also several subsidiary questions which add to
the complexities Of situation. After the treaty
was signed notes were exchanged between Lord
LandsiOwne and VI. Cambon the bearing OF which
on the general issue can be briefly stated Franco
al St Pierre. because MS presence there would be
inimcal 10 the smuggling tTatic, for which the
place Is notorious. But now France agrees 20
cepL Euch an officiai. and Great Britain agrees
recognize the French Consul a st. Johns. who
has ALWAYS lived there, but never yet been accorded
an oficial status. The second note involves a nice
question TO the taking Of cod, salmon and her
ring on treaty Great square Enclosures
of netting. termed traps, used by the New
f0Undanders in catching cod. but the French do
not favor them. Ordinary single nets, OF varying
mesh. small for herring and large for salmon. are
used IL catching these fishes. The third note IS
chiefly valuable for the defining by France Of the
limits OF her bait
The situation therefore. bristles with difficulties
both respects the ratification Of the treaty by
BY the Joint conference. Newfoundland
points made clear-that the October 20 clause ap-
plies only 10 French fishermen and that the consul
al 81. Pierre will be properly protected. France.
her part. is striving obtain bait concessions.
and both finding great difficulty Ia phrasng
divergent views Of the Newfoundland and French
fishermen.
OUTLOOK GOOD FOR GRAIN TRADE