The Washington herald., 1906-10-09
CABINET MAY RESIGN
NeWfOundlanderS Are Angry
Over Fishery Agreement.
WOULD BREAK WITH EMPIRE
Colonial Government Controlled by
Class Which Owns Fishing IN
terests-Fishermen Not in SYM
pathy with Discriminating Laws
Against American Citizens.

Official confirmation has reached the
State Department from United States
Ambassador Reid, at London. of the ac-
ceptauce by the British government Of
the mCdus vivendi, which is to govern the
fishing by American fishermen of the
coast OF Newfoundland, for the present
season.
Yesterday mornings dispatches from
Newfoundland also contained the statement
that the government of that British col
ouy is so angered by the agreement to the
modus. and by the fact that the British
government has acceded to the American
demands, that all Of the Cabinet Ministers
are about to resign.
This disruption of the government may.
in the opinion of officials here. have Sc
rious results. II is even limited that It
may be but the precursor Of a movement
for the separation of Newfoundland from
the British crown. which would thus lose
one of its troublesome, but valuable as
sets.
England Tried TO Be Fair.
In the fishing disputes between New
foundland and the United States. the
British government has been placed in a
most embarrassing position The New
fouudland government has been trying for
some years, by the adoption of inimical
legislation, to absolutely destroy all the
rights of American fishermen. which were
guaranteed by the treaty Of 1918. On the
other hand the British government has
been trying TO act fairly in the matter
with the United States, while at the same
time desiring TO do nothing to offend o.
ALLEVIATE the NewfoundlandeTs.
The difficulty arises, Il is learned, from
ment is under the control Of the merchant
or planter class. as II is called. These
men also control absolutely the fisheries
In most cases they own the boats, the
zeines. the fishing apparatus. and the cur
ing establishments on shOre-in fact the
entire plant required for the capture OF
the Goldfish and its preparation for the
market It is through their influence that
laws have been passed prohibiting An eri-
cans from obtaining bait from Newfound-
land. or from hiring Newfoundland fish
ermcn.
Americans a Boon to Fishermen.
These laws, it is said, do not at all rep
resent the desires Of the bulk Of the popu-
Iation of the colony. The Newfoundland
fishermen themselves want to sell bait
and they would be very willing to ship on
American fishing vessels In these ways
it is said. they have in the past obtained
practically the only ready cash they ever
receive They got good American gold for
their services and bait. But working for
the planters they receive their pay in
supplies of all kinds, from food to fishing
apparatus Usually their credit at the
stores was always overdrawn, so that
they were always in debt.
They have however. SO small a voice in
the government of the colony that the
planters, who are in control, have been
able to impose their will and secure the
adoption of the restrictive legislation aim
cd against the American competition, in
subversion of the American treaty rights
The particular reasons that arc now
impelling the planters" in control of the
Newfoundland government TO threaten its
disruption are that the mOdus vivendi.
agreed TO by Great Britain, contains pro-
visions that American fishermen may use
purse seines, which they claim 70 be nee
essary for successful fishing, and that
they may employ Newfoundland fisher
men, Both of these things are expressly
prohibited by laws passed by the New
fOundland legislature. That the home gov
ernment, In London, should override their
local laws is CALLING 10 the Newfound-
landers. They know, too. that Great
Britain will never resort 10 force again to
keep one Of her colonies from asserting
her independence, hence the Newfound-
landers are acting in a very arrogant
fashion