[iongley] difficulties WITH NEWFOIWDLAND 261 



fisheries. The relations of all the N.A. Provinces to United States 

 and Empire would be affected. We are not informed of powers 

 given to Bond, and desire communication. Please represent strongly 

 how the fishery and commercial interests of Canada will be injured 

 by such an arrangement as Bond is currently reported as making, 

 and how disastrous from a national point of view it would be for a 

 separate colony to effect an arrangement with the United States more 

 favorable than would be given to the Confederated Provinces. Our 

 difficulties under new American tariff are sufficiently great now." 



Sir Charles Tupper communicated this message and his own 

 strong protest against this wide departure from the long established 

 policy that had hitherto prevailed upon this very important question. 

 This was acknowledged by the Colonial Secretary, November 1st, 

 and an assurance given that his representations would receive careful 

 consideration. To the Canadian Government a message was sent 

 November 4th, declaring that "Bond had no instructions, simply a 

 letter of introduction to the British Minister at Washington, in order 

 to consider with him whether, as Newfoundland delegates believed, 

 the United States would, under the McKinley law, remit or reduce 

 duty on Newfoundland fish if colony granted reciprocal facilities for 

 procuring bait." It also affirmed that Her Majesty's Government 

 were in communication with British Minister respecting wish of Cana- 

 dian Government that Canada should be included in any arrangement. 



It is to be noted that on November 12th, Pauncefote wired Lord 

 Salisbury that Blaine desired Bond to return at once to W^ashington 

 in connection with reciprocity arrangements. This request was wired 

 to Newfoundland Government, November 14th, and Bond left for 

 Washington immediately. The object was a modification of the 

 terms of the original draft treaty. The new draft omitted crude 

 minerals and a list of articles to be admitted into Newfoundland at a 

 lower rate of duty and another list of manufactured articles to be' 

 admitted into Newfoundland free. This last draft treaty was even 

 more objectionable to Canada than the first because it embraced a 

 large measure of reciprocity in articles not connected with the fisheries. 



The Canadian Government by every means and in every form 

 possible, placed before the Imperial authorities their objections to 

 this special Newfoundland arrangement, and their protest against 

 its ratification. On the 9th December a full and able report on the 

 subject was made by the Ministers of Justice and Marine and Fisheries, 

 pointing out in clear and convincing terms the evils which would be 

 certain to accrue in respect of Imperial interests in North America if 

 Newfoundland was allowed to make separate arrangements giving 

 to Americans privileges which would destroy the whole value of these 



