New-York tribune., 1907-10-29
THE FISHERIES MODUS.
Continued from first page.

suggestions as TO a mOdus vivendi He was as
sured that they were probably impracticable
Nevertheless, in apparent Difference to his
wishes, they were duly advanced without word
about arbitration. They were declined in the
letter above quoted by the American Ambas-
sador. Then, when the arbitration is announced,
Sir Robert wants it understood that in spite of
his speech to the colonial premiers he had al
ways been in favor of arbitration and ought 10
have the credit Of proposing it. though. pend
ing arbitration. he would still tolerate no modus
vivendi excepting a surrender Of the American
claims.
Finally Sir Robert completed the drollery of
the situation by proposing, after arbitration of
these questions arising under the treaty of 1918
had been agreed upon and the two governments
We're engaged in arranging the details. that the
British government should now proceed to abro-
gate the treaty itself. 1t is wonder Lord
Elgin dryIy remarked on this last proposal that
1T IS a suggestion which it is difficult to believe
can have been meant seriously"
Other interesting features Of the situation
which have been well understood here, but were
apparently not realized by the British public un-
I'll Lord Elglns letter was published. the
vehement opposition Of the Newfoundland fisher
men themselves 10 Sir Robert Bonds course.
their petitions to the Legislature to abandon
the present policy OF hostility to American fish
ermen and their. protests to the Governor
against Sir Roberts policy as injurious to tho
best interests Of the colony a whole and
rlinous to the livelihood Of the people the
western coast
After the Newfoundland Premier had opposed
arbitration to the utmost Of his ability. and then
claimed the credit for proposing It: after he had
yielded to arbitration. and then suggested for
a modus vivendi pending the arbitration the
surrender OF the American claims; after next
proposing that while the preliminary work for
the arbitration was going to determine the
respective rights under the treaty the British
government should denounce the treaty itself
after all this It needed only thing more to
enable this versatile Premier to make a full
display OF his craftsmanship. This he furnished
when no fatty refused TO obey the direction OF
the Colonial Office TO publish the modus vivendL
Since then he has been complaining that he was
actually overruled and that the Governor with
out his consent published IN the Official Ga
zette'' the agreement which had been merely
made by the British government!
No wonder the London Observation-Disclosures
now, as heretofore. on foreign policy. and GER
tainly not a supporter OF the present British ad-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. remark that these proceed
ings "are not calculated to add TO the reputation
as a statesman of the Prime Minister of the
colony" II would seem moderate I'm its further
comment that "on the facts stated in Lord
Elgin's very temperate and very weighty dis
patch, few people we imagine. dissent from
his remarks that this important question his
najesty's government have not received all the
assistance which they were entitled to expect
from the colonial government"