New-York tribune., 1910-04-24
WILL FISH OR CUT BAIT"
Sir Edward Morris, Premier of
Newfoundland, Talks.
HERE ON WAY TO THE HAGUE
Final Adjudication of Fishery
Dispute by Arbitration on
Wording of Treaty.

Sir Edward Morris Premier Of New
foundland. arrived at The Hoffman House
yesterday on his wav TO the Hague tri-
bunal. where he will assist in the final
adjudication Of the dispute between the
British Foreign Offce and the United
States government over the Newfoundland
fisheries
After describing the issues which will
come before the tribunal. Sir Edward. who
believes enthusiastically in the future OF
HIS country, spoke Of reciprocity with the
United States and Of the resources Of New
foundland. which, he thinks. are not truly
appreciated. On the real issue in the FISH
cries dispute he said:
1t IS really the Interpretation OF an ordi-
nary contract. called A treaty. made in Isis
between Great Britain and the United
States. Under that treaty the nhabitants
Of the United States were given the right
10 take FISH on the west coast OF Newfound-
land. We contend that the right IS con-
fined TO only inhabitants OF the United
States. The United States says: We can
go there IN our own vessels with crews OF
foreigners. or employ Newfoundlanders to
take fish for us
The words Of the treaty con1ne the
right to fish 20 the coast The United
States interprets this 10 include bays. har-
bors and creeks.
Another question is the right OF New
foundland to make the laws to govern the
fishing. The United States claims that
there must be joint laws and regulations
made and approved by both countries.
When the treaty was made. in ISIS no
lighthouses existed: since then Newfound-
land has put lighthouses all along the
coast We have exacted light dues: Ameri-
cans claim they are not liable for dues be
cause the lighthouses were not there when
the treaty was made. There are some other
minor matters
When asked IL there was any bitterness
in Newfoundland as a result OF the dispute
Sir Edward replied in the negative
We are only asking he said. that the
Hague tribunal give US an Interpretation Of
the treaty, in accordance with the reading
OF the British government which made the
treaty and has conducted all the corre-
spondence with the United States All this
VIII be settled when the arbitrators get to
work on June l. II is a great matter that
two countries like the United States and
Great Britain should be able TO submit
such a question 10 arbitration We are
getting more sensible, and vet i was q
less matter that led 10 the Franco Prussian.
Russo-Turkish. Spanish-American and
Russo-Jepanese wars"
In reply 10 a question as 70 where New
foundland stood on the question of reel
procity with the United States. the PREMIER.
speaking with evident regret al the failure
Of treaties proposed. said:
In twenty years Newfoundland has
signed two reciprocity treaties with the
United States; one OF these never reached
the United States Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations. the other was killed IN
the Senate. In the mean time Newfound-
land had given TO American fishermen the
concessions named in the treaty.
The opposition 10 both these treaties
came from Gloucester. Mass The fishing
settlements consider that fish from New
fOUndland might interfere with them. We
never hoped 20 sell in the same markets
as the Gloucester men. There are millions
OF persons in the United States to-day who
never get a bit OF fresh cod and who might
have Il at four or Eve cents pound-one-
third OF what they pay for inferior meat
But the Gloucester combine has sufficient
influence. in order 70 maintuin decaying
Industry, % make the consumer in the
United States pay for it. Goldfish is ad-
rnitted 20 be the finest food IN the world.
Newfoundland still favors reciprocity
along certain lines. We have 1ish. min
erals. paper and pulp. and We are looking
for market III the United States. ma
jority Of the products we take from the
United States-fiOur, kerosene oil. lines,
cordage and agricultural lmplements-aTe
on the free list. whereas nothing from us
j. admitted duty free except a few things
IN their raw state I know of no reason
why could not have commercial ar
rsngement that would be advantageous TO