52 
“ agree not to dispute with them over the legal question, Is the — 
“* catching of lobsters a ‘fishery’? Twenty French factories on — 
“the west coast, with the French free to import material and — 
“ stores duty free, means the erection of twenty St. Pierres, and 
“this in its turn means the destruction of our revenue, the 
** debauching of our people, and the ruin of our business,” 
WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE. 
Subsequent to the adoption of the foregoing resolutions by 
the Legislature and the mass meeting respectively, copies of corre- 
spondence between the Secretary of State for the Colonies and 
the Governor were submitted to the Legislature, and it was then 
made public: for the first time that the Government of Newfound- 
land, as distinguished from the Legislature, had been consulted — 
from time to time by the Secretary of State concerning the 
negotiations preceding the final adoption of the modus vivendi. 
This correspondence, together with that which took place sub- 
sequent to the announcement to the Legislature of the adoption 
of the modus vivendi, will be found in extenso in Appendix G, 
with the exception of a despatch dated March 28th, which was with- 
held from the Legislature by command of the Secretary of State. 
It is only just, however, to quote at this juncture the correspond-_ 
ence directly relating to an impression which appears to have 
existed in the mind of the Secretary of State to the effect that 
the Government of Newfoundland, at least, was willing to accept 
the modus vivendi, though it desired a modification of the terms, 
if possible—an impression which the Secretary apparently re- 
garded as justifying the final adoption of the modus vivendi 
without the consent even of that Government of Newfoundland 
which he had previously consulted from the outset. On the 12th 
of February the following despatch was received :— 
Secretary of State to Governor. 
“Tt is absolutely necessary that an answer respecting the 
“modus vivendi should be given to the French Government 
“immediately. Reply must be given by the day after to-morrow.” 
On the 13th of February the following despatch was sent :— 
Governor to Secretary of State. 
“My Ministry strongly contest the French claim to lobster 
