The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-11
WILL THE NEWFOUNDLAND PRE-
MIER RETALIATEP

WAsHNoToN.. April io.-Reoent de-
spatches from 81 Johns make Il evident
that Premier Bond has given UP all hope Of
closer trade relations between Newfound-
land and the United States, and that he
hitherto extended TO American fishermen.
After the treatment which he has received
at the hands OF these fishermen and their
political patrons, this Ia neither surprising
nor open 20 reasonable complaint. We
have very deliberately slammed our door
in his face. Can we blame him fairly for
retaliatnR In knd7
The ground on which Premier Bond
bases his recent hill for the exclusion Of
American fishermen Is found in the treaty
Of 1918. In an earlier treaty, that OF i7ss
by which the boundary between the United
States and British North America was fixed,
there was given to American fishermen the
right TO fish in all the waters Of that region
where the inhabitants Of both countries
used at any time heretofore to fish, That
included the Gulf Of 1t. Lawrence and the
Newfoundland banks But they were TO
have only the liberty 10 fish on the New
foundland coast. By the treaty Of 1918
the United States renOunced forever any
liberty heretofore enjoyed Of taking, dry
ing or curing fish con or within three marine
miles OF any Of the coasts, bays or creeks or
harbors Of his Britannia Majesty's other
dominions In America The exception 10
this covered certain specified areas on the
Newfoundland coast. the Magdalen Islands
and the southern coast OF Labrador. The
annulment Of the modus vivendi under
which operations are now carried on will
leave In force the terms Of the treaty Of
1918.
Assuming the probable passage Of the
Premler's measure. two direct questions
will arise. Can American fisherman obtain
the necessary bait from domestic sources?
Will not the loss Of the baitand supply trade
prove costly 10 the island people2 1t is
probable that bait can be obtained in Amer
lean waters. but It will be by more costly
and much less convenient methods than
those now open TO the fishermen. The loss
Of the bait market may result In injury TO q
comparatively small number, while a COM
pensating benefit will appear in improved
conditions In trade competition. The
greater injury will fall on the greedy Ameri-
can group.
The really serious feature Of the situation
appears IN the en- OTIS WnlCh VIII Almost
certainly be made to evade the law. Premier
Bonds bin provides for that the penalty Of
seizure Of the vessel, its equipment, stores
and cargo. There is every probability Of a
return to the unfortunate situation OF 1885
and 1885, by which international relations
we're sometimes heavily strained.
For anything that may come the New
England fishing interests are responsible,
and they must take their medicine. They
have made their own bed and must lie in IL.
It is much TO be hoped that the matter may
stop there, and not bring the country into
complications with England and her col
onies. Newfoundland cannot be blamed
IL she now turns TO Canada with her trade.
and, as she may, links her political fortune
with the Dominion by joining the Fedora
ton. That would give Canada a card which
she very much wishes 70 hold, and which
she could with full justification use TO our
disadvantage and her own considerable
gain.
statesmanship would have given APP
proval 10 the HAy-Bond treaty. Narrow
and petty politics amended it to death.