17 
the colonisation of a large portion of valuable territory, 
the development of the mineral and other resources of 
ny, which are believed to be very considerable in the 
y of the so-called ‘French shore,’ should be delayed by 
nt of a clear understanding with the French as to free 
ess On the part of the British settlers to the seaboard. The 
t that. the population of certain places near that shore has 
een rapidly i increasing makes it on this account alone most 
sirable to arrive at a definite agreement with the French 
overnment, with a view to prevent the recurrence of collisions 
nd misunderstandings which, but for the forbearance and 
-Op ration of the naval officers of the respective Governments, 
ight lead to serious difficulties between the two Governments. 
“8. With respect to this latter point, I need only refer to 
e eats made in the years 1869, 1870, and 1871; and 
acted to the seizure and confiscation by a raion 
flie >in August, 1872, of nets, the property of British subjects; 
id to a collision which threatened to take place this year owing 
announcement that the French officers were prepared to 
sist on enforcing the claim of the French to an exclusive 
ght of fishing, but which has been happily averted by orders 
ntly given to the officers of both Governments. 
9. The whole subject has not been lost sight of by Her 
ty’s Government, who have from time to time been in 
unication upon it with the French Government; but, for 
s which your Ministers will understand, no favourable 
unity has recently presented itself for ain negotia- 
SE EE - 
_ THE ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE’S OPINION, 
e report of the Council of the Royal Colonial Institute 
OSes” with the following terse and forcible paragraph :— 
ry _* Such is the position of the question at the present time. 
é e temper and patience of the people of Newfoundland have 
sorely ixied for over one hundred years. But this state of 
s cannot be expected to last for ever. The time has 
when national policy imperatively demands that the 
q ion should be finally settled ; so that British subjects may 
longer be deprived of the right of fishing in their own 
raters, and colonising and developing the resources of their 
2 
