1766 NORTH ATLANTIC COAST FISHERIES ARBITRATION. 



Bond stand there like a Napoleon of the northern seas, defying the 

 United States ; all these are matters that come and go small historic 

 incidents which, I am sure, have never spoiled the sleep of a single 

 United States statesman. They have slept very well in spite of Sir 

 Robert Bond. But do not let these things be made occasions for 

 dividing the control of a State, for taking the management of its 

 principal and only industry out of the hands of those who are locally 

 concerned and vitally dependent upon it, and putting the substantial 

 control of it in the hands of those who may or may not remain peace- 

 fully disposed to that State. 



That is why I say questions of sovereignty are of such supreme 

 importance; and that is why I have ventured at such length, and 

 with such insistence, to dwell on Question 1, and why also I venture 

 to put Question 2 upon the same footing. It is one of those things 

 about which respectfully I say it it seems to me there can never 

 be any compromise. You cannot compromise your sovereign right s. 

 You ought not to do it. You may try to do it, but all the documents 

 and papers in the world will not permanently pacify a nation if you 

 in any way impinge upon their right to control their destiny and 

 regulate their industry in the way they think best. 



SIR CHARLES FITZPATRICK: Mr. Attorney-General, may I mention 

 a difficulty that occurred to me during the course of the observations 

 made by the President: Is it your submission that Newfoundland 

 could, by regulation, prohibit the employment of foreigners, say 

 Asiatics or others, by the United States, in the prosecution of the 

 fishery, and at the same time employ them itself in the prosecution 

 of the same fishery ? 



SIR W. ROBSON: Well, that question wants a little consideration. 

 May I consider it now ? I am asked whether I am contending 



SIR CHARLES FITZPATRICK: Perhaps it might help the understand- 

 ing of the question if I say that I put it to you from the standpoint 

 of discrimination. Would that constitute discrimination in the 

 prosecution of the right conferred upon the inhabitants of the United 

 States with respect to the common fishery ? 



SIR W. ROBSON : That is to say, would it be open to the Newfound- 

 land State to permit to other classes the employment of foreigners by 

 statute, but to forbid it to the Americans? 



SIR CHARLES FITZPATRICK: Could they permit it to their own 

 citizens ? 



SIR W. ROBSON : I would like to distinguish a little there. I can 

 imagine a case in which it would be a discrimination. I can also 

 imagine cases in which it would not be a discrimination. Supposing, 

 for instance, that Newfoundland said : " We will let you, our fisher- 

 men, employ Orientals or Asiatics, but we will not let Americans 

 employ them," Then, I think, that would be a discrimination. 



