CHAPTER I. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
ANNOUNCEMENT OF “* MODUS VIVENDI.” 
a The Legislature of Newfoundland was summoned to meet on 
the 6th day of March last for the despatch of business. In the 
| Rs speech from the throne, on the 7th of that month, the Governor 
_ used the following words :— 
“ The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies has 
“acquainted me that negotiations are in progress between the 
_ © Governments of Great Britain and France, for a settlement of 
; “ questions that have arisen with regard to the right of the 
_ subjects of the two nations respectively to catch and preserve 
_ lobsters on that part of our coast where the French have a con- 
- “current right of fishery, and it is hoped that a provisional 
_ “arrangement for the present season may be arrived at, which 
_ “TI trust may pave the way to a satisfactory settlement of this 
 * difficulty.” 
: The announcement that “ negotiations are in progress” created 
_ considerable interest; but it was naturally supposed that the 
_ Correspondence upon the subject would in due course be laid 
_ before the Legislature, and its assent received in the ordinary 
_ way before any arrangement was irrevocably entered into. The 
_ Surprise felt by the public was great, therefore, when, on the 
_ 14th day of March, only eight days after the first announce- 
_ ment of negotiations, a telegraphic message to a news agency 
_ from one of its correspondents abroad announced that “a modus 
_ “viwendi between Great Britain and France, relative to the 
_ “canning of lobsters, has been concluded.” Still greater surprise 
| __ was felt by the people of Newfoundland when, moved apparently 
__ by the revelation already made, the Governor transmitted to the 
q Legislature a message* announcing that an arrangement had 
f _ been concluded whereby the subjects of France were for one year, 
_ at least, permitted to maintain permanent structures upon the 
* See page 47. 
