FISHERIES DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14441, 6 February 1909, Page 10

FISHERIES DISPUTE

A TREATY AGREED TO. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, February 5. (Rccniveif Feb. 5, at 10.18 p.m.) Newfoundland has assented to (lis Fisheries Treaty without substantial alteration. A cablegram which was received 0 n January 18 slated that, tli■; proposals which were made several months ago for a settleliivlil of tho Newfoundland coastal fisheries dispute were taking definite shape. Mr J. M. Kent, XowfoumtbiiKl Minister of •fustic". was lo confer with Mr Kliliu Pvoot, American Sccnhiy of Stailc; Mr Brvce, liritish Amhas-adc.r to the United States; and Mr A. H. Aylesnortli, Canadian Minisloc of -In.stif-o. the final draft of the Canadian and Newfoundland coastal ■fisheries arbilrat-on treaty, it was stated !hat the United States (loverjiim-ul. \v.:; claiming heavy damages for Newfoundland's iuterfcrenc." with an American vessel which was fishing on the Newfoundland <xja*i(, iu terms of the treaty of 1818. The whole (|ocsli(,ii of tlio fisheries is to lie relegated to the Hague Tribunal: but. though both Newfoundland and the United States have agreed 1o submit the treaty of 1818 to the Hague for interpretation, Sir liok-ert Pond, Premier of Newfoundland, opposes the inclusion of the ijuestion, which is lo be decided in tho law court. The atliiude of Newfoundland is expressed by Sir It. Bond as follows:— 1 " Orijjinally Iho people of the United States ha<l c(|ual rij?hla with British subjects in the fisheries of North America. The war between Knglaiiil and the United States cancelled llieso riifW-s. In 1818 a. treaty was entered into which gave Jin* Americans certain rights, and it. is precisely in. regard to what, theso righto nioal) that a difference of opinion has existed. There can be no doubt, whatever, I think, that England, being the sovereign power, ami conveying to Iho United States certain privileges within her territory, expected, and intended, that there who exorcised tlifso rights should lx> amenable to the laws of the In nil lhaf ihev wore about, to (inter." Tlio enforcement by OreatKiiilain of tho modus vivcmli with tho United Slates, the suspension of tlio colonial laws prohibiting island fishermen •from serving on American vessels, and the overriding of Newfoundland legislation by the Imperial authorities created much sympathy in Canada, for Newfoundland, 'hut Lord Elgin pointed out lhat the vighta Which were granted mi 1818, and ,'nad been exercised over since, wero still binding, however onerous they might he, to New{oiuidlaiid.