50 
Newfoundland were concisely stated in the following article, . 
which appeared in the Herald newspaper, of St. John’s :— 
“¢ What are your objections to the modus vivendi?’ That | 
“is the question the British people may ask of us, when we 
“ appeal to their sympathies against it. It is wise to prepare the 
“ answer. We object to the modus vivendi because the negotia- 
«“ tions leading up to it were commenced without our knowledge 
“ or consent—for we claim that no arrangements concerning our 
“ interests should be discussed without our prior knowledge and _ 
“ approval, since great results for us may be involved even in the | 
“ commencement of such negotiations. We object to the modus | 
“ yivendi because the negotiations concerning it were carried on — 
“ without consultation with representatives from this colony—for | 
“ we contend that wherever and whenever our rights are being - 
‘«¢ discussed we should be represented by men of our choice, men 
“ familiar with the subject and enjoying public confidence. We : 
“ object to the modus vivendi because it was concluded without 
“ our knowledge and consent—for we most earnestly contend that ‘| 
“ our rights should not be mortgaged without our approval first 
“ given. The modus vivendi was commenced, carried on, and 
- concluded without our consent, without our knowledge, without | 
“ our approval. | 
“Tt is safe to say that what hhas been done to this colony | 
“ would not be attempted with any other self-governed British | 
“ dependency, and if attempted would cause a revolution. We | 
“‘ were promised in 1857—by the famous Labouchere despatch qj 4 
‘‘ that nothing should be done to prejudice our rights without 
“ our consent, and up to date that promise has been faithfully — 
“kept. The 1885 arrangement with France was submitted to us, 
“ and rejected. Assent to the Bait Act was refused in 1886, but 
«“ conceded in 1887. The modus vivendi with the Americans _ { 
“ was submitted for our approval in 1888, and accepted. No pre- | | 
«“ cedent exists for the disrespect shown to us in this latest affair, | 
“ and the cause is hard to understand. i 
“We object to the modus vivendi because of its’ own | 
“ outrageous terms. The initial objection is, that the mere fact | 
“ of making any arrangement casts a doubt on our exclusive right | 
“ to all the lobsters on the so-called French shore, as to which no __ 
«“ doubt in reality exists in the minds of British lawyers and — 
“ British statesmen. The admission of such a doubt, however, | 
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