IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT.
which our Empire is governed at present, which has had a large place in the columns of the daily press and which has, during the present session, occupied the attention of both Houses of Parliament. I refer to the case of Newfoundland. I do not intend to enter into the history of this question. The position may be briefly summarised thus: The French have undoubted Treaty rights on a portion of the shores of Newfoundland which have become absolutely intolerable owing to an expansion of population, which was never dreamt of at the time that Treaty was made, or even at the periods when it has been since confirmed. The way in which these Treaty rights have been enforced (the Newfoundlanders say, exceeded) by both French officers and the officers of H.M. ships has produced the gravest discontent in Newfoundland. More than a year ago that discontent was very serious, but nothing was done. During the winter the situation grew still more grave. Mass meetings were held at St. John's and elsewhere to protest against the action of the Home Government, there was much talk of annexation to the United States, accompanied by the hauling down of the national flag, which is becoming only too common in cases of this kind. At the beginning of this year, the House of Assembly began to pass unanimous resolutions on the subject. The Colonial Office became convinced that something must be done, and within the last few weeks the Premier of Newfoundland has been heard at the bar of one of the Houses of Parliament, and some sort of temporary arrangement has been arrived at. I am now dealing with the Newfoundland question only as incidental to my main argument; but, if I may be allowed to digress, I would say that this
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