Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-18
Is Caused By the Attitude
Of New FoundIanders.
Els heTies Question Shows No
Signs Of a Solution.
Desired Provincial Restrictions
Would Exclude Americans.

Washington, July 1.-THE approach
Of August 1, marking the beginning
of the new herring fishing season OIL
tho coast of New Foundland, Is
matter of great concern to the sta'e
dcnartment. for it finds the fisheries
controversy between America a'u
,.r.,t Pritain in most confused anu
,,psatisfactory shape. The moduS "
ycndi entered into last year by the
forms of which, and greatly against
tho wishes Of the New FOundlanders'
American fishermen were permitted 10
ply their vocation unmolested "il tie
shores of that island, expired WITH the
close of the fishing season.
II was the expectation oil Doth the
American and British governments
that before the opening OF the next
season, some permanent arrangements
could be reached that would remove
all future friction on this score. Inc
New Foundlanders however, were IN
sistcnt upon their right to legislate 10
,,Ily for the fisheries so long as they
did not in terms discriminate against
Amo ricans, claiming that in so DONG
they were not Infringing the treaty
rights of the Americans. The British
government has apparently been drlV-
on finally to concede the SoundnesS OF
this contention or at least, 1t has been
nopotiatine through Ambassador Reid
on that basis.
Indications today are that it VIII be
difficult to reach any kind Of a perma-
mont settlement of the trouble and the
whole effort Of the negotiations is ap-
x.I 60. hn
on the drafting of some form OF mo-
dus vivcndi to guard against the de-
vclopment of friction On the hshlhE
shores that might in the end have Sc
rious results. Thus, for instance, II IS
said the insstence of the New Found
Ianders upon their right to prevent
their fishermen from signing on the
Gloucester smacks that use purse
scines off the coast of the island would
probably prove fatal to the industry
as far as the Americans are concerned
because the expense of shipping large
crews in Massachusetts at high wages
would be prohibitive.
The New Founilanders are also in
sisting upon the prohibition OF the
purse seine entirely. 1t is also already
forbidden tn their own people. 50 they
claim that there IS no discrimination
involved in making the Americans
abandon it's use But the latter assert
that it Is not possible profitably to
operate fishing smacks with their eX-
pcnsive crews and outfits without the
purse scincs and that as they have al
ways enjoyed tn" right to use them.
the attempt to deprive them now by
iol, no in,
violation of the privileges conveyed by
treaty.
The fact is that the occasion is one
that calls for much mutual concessions
If there is to be Il new nodus Vivendi
and the New Fnundl1ndcrs are not
anxious that there should be until they
have some sufficient as.'uranc" that
they "an have Il satisfactory perna-
ncnt arrangement TO that end they
have suggested Il reference of the
whole subject of conflicting treaty and
Legislative rights to the permanent
Hague tribunal.
our own government is not avcrse to
some such proposition under proper
limitations as to the scope of the ar
bitration. which must be carefully
guarded lest it set Il precedent which
might have Il dangerous influence up
on the veXed question Of conflicting ma
tiunal treaty and state rights in the
United states as involved in the San
FranCisco-J japanese matter. But it is
said ut the state department that 50
far there has been nothing to indicate
that the government of Great Britain
itself Is willing Ia accept the New
Foundland suggestion as to arbitration
and il is therefore giving most OF its
attention to the subject of the modus
vivendi