BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 407 



[Sir James Winter's opinion that it is " another misstatement " to 

 say that the Supreme Court of Newfoundland decided against the 

 Imperial Government on the question of the modus vivendi has to be 

 reconciled with the following passage of Sir Robert Bond's speech 

 at the Imperial Conference: "With the validity of the modus 

 vivendi of 1906 I do not propose to deal. Suffice it to say that the 

 Supreme Court of Newfoundland has decided that it could not over- 

 ride local statutes as intended."] 



Extract from tlie St. John's, Newfoundland " Daily News ", of 

 September 85, 1907. 



PLEA FOR THE " STATUS QUO ANTE." 



On the first page appears a telegraphic report of a monster mass 

 meeting held in the heart of the Herring Fishery District. 



In substance, it is an earnest appeal for a reversion to the status 

 quo ante, and a common sense and dispassionate presentation of the 

 existing state of affairs. 



The names mentioned are a sufficient guarantee of the wholly un- 

 partisan nature of the proceedings. The cry comes from the people, 

 irrespective of party affiliations ; it is " vox populi," the petition of 

 the people who have suffered, and are suffering unnecessarily. 



All Newfoundland approves of a sane and dignified claim to our 

 God-given heritage, the Inshore Fisheries of this Island ; nor does it 

 appear that this claim is seriously disputed. 



The Coast Fisheries are subject to Treaty rights, and all points at 

 issue have been referred to The Hague Tribunal; according to the 

 Government organs, at Premier Bond's suggestion. 



Pending a final and authoritative decision, it is urged that all re- 

 strictions be removed, and that the fishermen and fish dealers on the 

 West Coast be not interfered with in their conduct of the fishery. 



The two main grievances are the threats of fine and imprisonment 

 for carrying out the terms of a Modus Vivendi, which those inter- 

 ested hardly approve of, and those not interested care very little 

 about; and the clause, which compels the Americans, if they ship our 

 fishermen, to ship them outside the three-mile limit. 



This clause is one which Americans and Newfoundlanders alike 

 strongly object to; the Americans because of the unnecessary expense 

 "and trouble, the Newfoundlanders because of the interference with 

 their rights as men, and especially on account of the danger attach- 

 ing to it. 



It is not a matter of rowing three miles in a summer sea, but of 

 battling the wind and waves, in storm swept waters, at the risk of 

 life and Iimb 3 and no justifiable cause. 



Last season at least one serious accident was narrowly averted 

 through this harsh and cruel clause, insisted upon by a " paternal " 

 government. Who shall say when danger will become disaster, and 

 suffering be followed by death? 



If one fisherman be injured or one life be lost by the inhuman 

 attempt to force our fishermen to incur these unnecessary dangers, 

 not all the water in the world will wash the Premier and his follow- 



