The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, APRIL 2,1891.

Waikato Times, Issue 2920, 2 April 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, APRIL 2,1891.

Ot'what" wver slate or perswion, religions or political.

Papers received by t.he mail enable uh to trace the causes which have

led to the present extremely strained relations which prevail between the Newfoundland Legislatureand people and the Imperial Government, They are throe—(l) '1 lie trouble with France as to fishing rights ; (2) the interference of the British naval commanders with the lobster-tinning industry, conducted by a Mr Baird, (it will bo remembered that he was ordered to discontinue his trade): (;}) the refusal of the Government to ratify a reciprocity convention agreed to between the Colonial Government and the Lnileil States.

As regards tlm iirst cause, Lord Salisbury's Government had ft tiled in inducing the Kreneli Government to withdraw the subjects ot' France from Newfoundland and forego tiny rights that that country may have under the treaty of 178?>. The feeling of the Newfoundlanders is that thi'ir rights have not lioen sufficiently protected by English statesmen. The opinion prevail?! in the colony that England should, at least, have issut'd ultimatums—if not at unci: interfered by force of arms to enforc;! their claims and redress their grievances. This, ot course, would mean the commencement of tin: great war which all are anticipating and which every man dreads, owing to the fearful slaughter which must ensue. Ihe Newfoundland pooole aru um e.i.soiK'.ble ; tln-y appear to forget that they arc a very inlinitesimal portion uf the British iimpire. and that were Lord Salisbury to bring about such a stupendous result. It out so small tt cause he would be, most, justifiably, reprobated by every man of his genera'ion tti.d by every historian for all time. The people of Newfoundland must remember that thov are part of a great nation which cannot ignore treaties entered into with, or concessions granted to, other Powers.

"With regard to the second ground of complaint, it was interpreted by the Imperial authorities that Mr Baird, in tho conduct of his business, was committing a breach of the treaty with France, and, in consequence, compelled him to desist. Further, it was in accordance with the modus vimidl agreed upon by the two nations, pending a final settlement of the difficulty. Mr Baird brought an action iu the Supreme Court against Captain Sir Baldwin Walker. The defence pleaded was that his procedure was justified by his instructions under the /nodus vivciuh, and that his act was an act of St ate. The reply to this plea by euunst:l was that the action could not b l .: regarded as an act of State ; that no law existed which gave naval commanders the right to interfere with any subject iu the pursuit of his lawful calling, and that the modus vicciaU was not binding in the colony without Imperial or colonial legislation. Judgment was reserved, and, so far as wo know, has not been delivered.

With regard to the third cause of irritation, the following resolutions, which were, carried in the Legislature on the 11 tli February, make the matter tolerably clear : —

"That this House views with profound disappointment atitl alarm the failure of Her Majesty's Government to carry out its solemn obligations to the colony, and is aware of the interference of Canada in the matter; and that this House cannot fail to appreciate the same as a menace, to the independence of the colony. The members of this House emphatically protest against lilie interests of the colony being made subservient to those nf the Dominion, and regard the delay iu ratifying the convention aforesaid as entirely unjustifiable, and as evidencing an utter disregard ou the part of Her Majesty's Government for the well 'leingnud prosperityof the colony. It is also resolved that th« delay occasioned by Her Majesty's Government not ratifying the said convention is regarded by this Legislature as unfriendly to the colony, and as calculated lo disturb the loyalty for which the colouy in the past has been remarkable. It is further resolved that this l. 'i.'islature most strongly urges upon Ilm- Majesty's Government "the immediate fiillilnicnt of its pledge to the colony byratifying the said convention."

It appears that tho Canadian Go vernment protested against the ratification of the convention, on the grounds that would be highly detrimental to the interests of the

'Dominion,

An. additional cause ot irritation was tho report which wru industriously circulated that the Imperial Government had proposed to cods a a portion of the culony to France. This was distinctly denied by Lord Kuutsford in the iLouse, of Lords;. The Minister for the Colonics also explained that when permission was riven to the Newfoundland Government to send a representative to Washington to enter into a convention, it was understood that it should not lie ot a nature detrimental to the inreivsU of any other part of the Empire, and thai the Government reserved the right of veto. As we pointed out above, Canada represented that, it would be detrimental to her. This being the ease, ratification v.-.as, of course, refused. The above appeal's to be the true state of the case, and sympathy will be felt for the Newfoundland people throughout the Empire, for the reason that they suffer under disabilities as regards the fishing

rights, v. hich the treaty of 178"> with France imposes upon them. Thi'V must not forget", however, that, wle-n 'irciit Britain gave tli»-ni control of thi'ir country, she only pos-,so:-sed the power to cio so on the hume terms Unit she occupied it at die. time. This is one more instance which goes to illustrate the fact, that it is eviential that the colonies should, at as an early a date as possible. have a voice in the foreign policy of the Empire. Had this sv.stein been in vogue at the present time, the outbursts of disloyalty to I the Kuipire would not have taken place. It may he that the outcry lias been raised by the party who expected to gain by the ratification of tlie convention with the United State:-*. It would lie to make a very low estimate of the intelligence of the Newfoundland people to hint that they believe annexation to the United Slates would settle satisfactorily their fishery dispute with I'Vanee. France would still retain the same rights, and it is not within the range of probability that the United .States, any more than England, would go to war to dispossess her,