115 
; Secretary of State to Governor, 12th March, 1890. 
q _ Following i is the text of modus vivendi as agreed to (here insert 
text already communicated to the House): Give publicity to the 
regoing. 
Governor to Secretary of State, 14th March, 1890. 
_ My Ministers strongly protest against what would in modus vivendi 
appear to be an admission of concurrent rights of lobster fishing, and 
they are of opinion that this arrangement will be prejudicial to the 
‘position of Newfoundland in future negotiations. They further con- 
‘tend that the Imperial Government should bear the expense of the 
losses of those who have established factories since date of Ist July. 
‘They consider that, as this modus vivendi has been concluded without 
their concurrence, it is not for them to advise as to giving notice to 
those whom it may concern. 
Governor to Secretary of State, 15th March, 1890. 
Birwarding the resolutions passed by both Houses of the Legis- 
-lature—without comment. 
Secretary of State to Governor, 18th March, 1890, 
Referring to your telegrams of 14th and 15th March,—I fear adop- 
tion of reported resolutions will not improve the prospects of an 
ultimate settlement most favourable to British claims. There is some 
‘misapprehension in supposing that any British territorial rights are 
| prejudiced by modus vivendi, or any French right admitted. All 
fF { questions of principle and of respective rights on both sides are stated 
' expressly to be reserved. Neither Her Majesty’s Government nor the 
_ Colonial Legislature have power of declaring what are British and 
French rights respectively ; and provisional arrangement is necessary 
_ for next season. 
Secretary of State to Governor, 18th March, 1890. 
Referring to my telegram of to-day, lobster fisheries,—It seemed 
_ open to doubt whether as regards permanent settlement the interests of 
_ Newfoundland would best be served by compromise or arbitration, but 
the strong conviction entertained by the colony as to the incon- 
_ trovertible nature of their contentions clearly points to arbitration. 
_ On learning that your Ministers agree, Her Majesty’s Government will 
_ at once take steps to push on negotiations for this purpose. No doubt 
_ that Newfoundland will prefer to prepare its own case, but every 
assistance will be given by those who have studied original corre- 
