Evening star., 1947-11-11
Newfoundland and Canada

Ottawa's formal offer to Newfoundland
of admission into the Canadian Confeder-
alton is the latest phase of question that
has been internationally raised for the
better part of century.
Newfoundland is, in sense. the Oldest
overseas extension of Britain. Discovered
bv John Cabot in 1897, only five years after
Columbus epoch-making voyage, New
foundland was the object OF persistent
attempts at English colonization which
ultimately made it an English possession
after struggles with the French. This large
island, about the size of Virginia, lying OH
the northeast corner of the North Amer
ican continent, has rugged and limos
pitable climate which keeps down It's
population to some 100000. The chief ac-
tivity is fishing from the nearby Grand
Banks It's main potential asset is the
dependency of Labrador, a strip of coast
line on the mainland facing Greenland.
When the hitherto disjointed provinces
of Canada formed a federation in 1857,
the normal thing would have seemed to
be the inclusion of Newfoundland. How
ever, local pride persuaded the Newfound-
landers to perpetuate their historic
identity, and the island later became
full-fiedged dominion in the British COM
monwealth of nations. But Newfound-
land fell upon evil days. Its fishing
industry declined and it's other natural
resources remained largely undeveloped.
The world depression of the early 193Os
reduced it to virtual national bankruptcy
From this plight it was rescued by the
motherland, but only at the price OF giving
up it's dominion status Newfoundland
was denoted to sort OF crown colony,
governed by a British commission which
managed its affairs.
This loss of government naturally
CALLED the Observation-Disclosures. but there
seemed no alternative until World War II
brought prosperity with heightened de-
mand for its products and the establish
ment of United States air and naval bases
on the island which brought welcome
stream of dollars. Yet this prosperity was
seen to be transient, and London refused
to cancel the debts which Newfoundland
had incurred.
Dubious of its ability to regain full do
m;nion status and unwilling to continue
indefinitely as crown colony, the New
foundlanders cast about for a better
alternative. The most obvious choice was
admission to the Dominion of Canada.
But Canada was not willing to assume too
large financial liabilities, and admission
to the confederation would mean the loss
of import duties from Canada which are
one of Newfoundland's chief sources OF
revenue.
The upshot of prolonged negotiations
between the Ottawa government and the
representatives of Newfoundland national
convention elected for that purpose is a
detailed offer from Ottawa which will be
submitted to a referendum of the New
foundland people. The probabilities are
that the offer will be accepted, though
there appears to be still sentiment for
independence together with some advocacy
of a bid for annexation to the American
Union as new State.
For us, the chief interest in these
Canadian negotiations is the effect of
inclusion with the Canadian Federation
upon the air bases which We now hold
under 99-year lease. However, the de-
velopment Of long air power renders