A.—s

587

NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERY CIIAIRMAN : Yesterday I received a notice from Sir Robert Bond that he wished to bring a subject before the Conference concerning the Newfoundland Fisheries, and Sir Edward Grey has attended for that purpose. Sir ROBERT BOND : Lord Elgin and gentlemen : In proposing this question for the consideration of this Conference, I do not intend to make more than a passing reference to the conditions that appertained in Newfoundland under the modus vivendi entered into between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States of America in October, 1906. All the facts are well known to His Majesty's Government and to the Colonial Members of this Conference, for I have taken occasion to place in the hands of the latter a concise history of the same. Any comments upon what transpired under that arrangement, or upon its terms, or the manner of its accomplishment, might be regarded as vexatious. It will, therefore, only be necessary for me to briefly outline the Treaty relations that have existed and that still exist between His Majesty's Government and that of the United States of America; the obligations that are imposed upon American subjects under the existing Treaty and the contentions of the Government of the United States of America now before His Majesty's Government, and which, I submit, are sufficiently grave to warrant the most serious consideration of this Conference, inasmuch as they challenge the binding effect of Colonial laws upon foreign subjects when coming within the jurisdiction of a Colonial Government. The question affects the Colony that I represent principally and most vitally, but it also affects every Colony represented in this Conference. 1 have had the privilege of discussing the question with Sir Edward Grey of the Foreign Office, with your Lordship, and Mr. Winston Churchill, and have stated, as clearly as I know how to do so, what I believe to be the rights of those I represent. That statement I desire to repeat here and now, for if it is held by this Conference to be unreasonable or unduly exacting, I shall be prepared to modify it to meet what may be considered reasonable and right.

Fifteenth Day. 14 May 1907.

Newfoundland Fishery.