258 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Minister apprehend the effect of the failure to observe the pledges 

 or assurances that under no circumstances would the Act be applied 

 to Canadian fishermen, or induce him to apply any remedy for this 

 act of repudiation. 



On the 25th May, on a report from the Minister of Marine and 

 Fisheries, setting forth in clear terms the conditions under which the 

 Bait Act received Royal assent, an Order in Council was passed 

 recommending that the Colonial Secretary be informed that the 

 Canadian Government "earnestly desire the immediate cooperation 

 of Her Majesty's Government in preventing serious loss and damage 

 being inflicted upon so many of Her Majesty's subjects as are inter- 

 ested in the important industry of the Bank fishery." This view was 

 urged directly by Sir Charles Tupper, High Commissioner. The 

 Colonial Secretary still harped upon the intra vires of the regulations, 

 but promised that when Sir William Whiteway, the new Premier, 

 arrived in London, he would urge upon him the effect of the strong 

 assurances given by his predecessor. Sir William Whiteway and his 

 colleagues, Messrs. Robert Bond and A. W. Harvey, arrived in 

 London, but no indication appears of their having been in the least 

 influenced in respect of the administration of the Bait Act by the 

 representation of the Colonial Secretary. Indeed, for a long succeed- 

 ing period, not only was the Bait Act enforced against Canada, 

 but the present Ministers persistently repudiated the assurances 

 given by Sir Robert Thorburn, and disclaimed any obligation on their 

 part, to be in any way bound by them. 



But Sir William and his colleagues had another, and far more 

 important, enterprise on their programme in London. After seeking, 

 without success, an imperial guarantee for a loan of £2,000,000, 

 they took measures for the achievement of a long cherished plan for a 

 settlement of their fishery troubles with the United States. On the 

 27th February, 1890, a Minute of Council was passed by the New- 

 foundland Government setting forth that "as the interests of this 

 colony are not identical with those of the Dominion of Canada, a 

 strong representation to that effect be made to the Imperial Govern- 

 ment with a view to negotiations with the United States Government 

 being entereed upon for a distinct arrangement with reference to this 

 colony as regards the fishery question and trade relations." This 

 was merely acknowledged by the Colonial Secretary and an intimation 

 given that the matter would be discussed with the Premier on his 

 arrival. 



On the 12th of July, Sir William Whiteway forwarded to the 

 Colonial Secretary a mem(jrandum, which his colleague, Mr. Harvey, 

 had drawn up, embodying their ideas as to an arrangement with the 



