The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-11-01
 THE MODUS VIVENDI.

Is Newfoundland Unreasonable in Its | Attitude Toward the United States?
 Though the arrangement on the sub- l ject of United States fishing rights off { the coast of Nefoundland is limited to the present fishing season, those ac- ouainted with the pro-American policy of the British Foreign Office will inter- pret it as foreshadowing a definite treaty treaty in which the concessions at the expense of local interests will be perpetuated. It was so with the modus vivendi relating to the Alaskan boun- dary; in all likelihood finality will be given to the present dispute with con sequences as repugnant to colonial sentiment as those that followed the award of the Paris tribunal against the claim of the Dominion to reach the Yukon from the Lynn canal. Since the fatal precedent was set by the Foreign Office of accepting the dictation of MT. Cleveland 10 years ago in the Guiana Venezuela controversy it has been our unvarying practice to surrender what ever rights were claimed by the United States. Our policy has been destitute of courage and firmness. It has been consistent only in the sense that sacri- fees deemed to be needful to win the good will of the United States have successively been made after a feeble pretence at reluctance Sir Edward Grey is unfolding the principle of con- tinuity. Whether the good will of the United States has in reality been gain ed may be doubted, though we admit there is a better feeling toward Great Britain than was the case during the war in South Africa, when MT. Roose- welt had no mean difficulty in restrain ing the hostility of may of his coun- trymen. But there is no doubt that our policy of giving way every point where the United States chooses to apply pressure has produced irritation and distrust among our fellow subjects in the western world. Canada no longer has any confidence in either the will or the ability of imperial diplimatists to safeguard her interests in matters in which she finds herself in conflict with her jealous and grasping neghbor. Hence the tentative demand for treaty making powers for herself and of direct representation at Washington, New foundIand must now be added to Canada as @ self-governing colony with a grievance against the Foreign Office in relation to it's dealings with the same Power. Exaggeration there may be, and probably is, in the matter and tone of the protests against the modus vivendi just as was the case when the Alverstone award was pub lished in the Dominion; but when al- lowance is made for the heat with which the surprise and disappointment of the Newfoundlanders is expressed the fact remains that the people think their interests have been sacrificed by Great Britain for the doubtful advant- age of American good feeling and that they have been contemptuously treated in having had no voice in a provisional settlement which will almost certainly become permanent.
 Strong though sympathy with the colony must be, the objectors to the modus vivendi have overstated their case. It is impossible for us to enter into details of the London convention of ISIS or the local act of 1905. Nor shall we attempt to estimate the effect of the provisional settlement upon the material interests of the Newfoundland fishing industry. But it seems to be necessary to remind some politicians in the island that Great Britain cannot tear up old treaties because their auth ors lacked foresight or knowl- edge of local conditions. The United States has unquestionable treaty Tights, These must perforce be respect ed whether or not they are agreeable