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* present Newfoundland Government sia consulted and terms of modus 
“ vivends were modified to their views.” Great indignation expressed 
- against my Ministers in consequence of publication of this. alleged 
ae ‘statement, and public meetings are being convened in all parts of the 
' country—impossible to say what will be the probable result of present 
_ excitement. My Ministers, since first intimation, strongly protested 
' against modus vivendi telegraphed by you as concluded with the French 
_ Government, and they now request official denial of statement of 
. Under Secretary of State. Answer urgently required. 
Secretary of State to Governor, 25th March, 1890. 
' Referring to your telegram of 24th March,—Statement incorrect. 
i “Who telegraphed it? Answer of Under Secretary of State for 
Foreign Affairs was as follows :—‘ The Newfoundland Government was — 
| | ** consulted as to the terms of the modus vivendi, which was modified to 
_ ** some extent to meet their views; but it was necessary to conclude it 
 “ without referring it to them in its final shape.” 
Governor to Secretary of State, 25th March, 1890, 
My Ministers request that incorrect statement made by Under 
_ Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs be immediately contradicted, as 
_ the terms of modus vivendi were not modified in accordance with their 
_ yiews. Ministers protested against any claims of French, and desired 
' time to be changed to 1st January for reasons given; but that was 
_ ignored and modus vivendi entered into without regard to their wishes. 
_ Ministers much embarrassed by incorrect statement made by Under 
Secretary of State. 
Secretary of State to Governor, 28th March, 1890. 
_ Referring to your telegram of 26th March,—Answer of Under 
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was correct, and cannot be con- 
_tradicted. See my telegram of 25th March. He did not state that 
_ modus vivendi was amended in accordance with your Ministers’ views, 
and showed distinctly that your Ministers were not responsible for 
_ modus vivendi as settled. They can, of course, quote his real answer and 
state what they desired, and that though their wishes were not ignored, 
it was impossible to fully give effect to them. Facts are as follows :— 
| On receiving request that date might be changed to 1st January, 1890, 
we attempted to arrange for this, but French Government refused. 
1. After much discussion, and with great difficulty, we carried clause as to 
new factories, in order to avoid as far as possible necessity for wholesale 
‘removal, which it was stated by you would create soreness and 
_ discontent. 
