Newfoundland II: French v. English: (From our Travelling Commissioner) St. John’s Newfoundland, Oct. 1887: Twelve miles off the south coast of Newfoundland lie two or three little islands, the two largest are separated by a sand bank. The principal one of the group is nothing but a rock sticking out of the Atlantic; a thin soil covers it in places but never deeply enough for a decent tree to take root in, and the whole aspect is cold and inhospitable. … (long discussion of French ownership of St. Pierre and Miquelon and fishery issues includes). … … “The consent of Newfoundland is regarded as the essential preliminary to any modification of their territorial or maritime rights”.
They point to this with pride as settling the question of the territorial rights of France for ever. And their contention is borne out by the most respected judge in the island, Mr. Justice Pinsent, in reply to a presentment of the grand jury of Bay St. George at the Supreme Court on Circuit, September 5th last. In this presentment they called his Lordship’s attention to the fact that the result of the passing of the Bait Bill had already been to draw the attention of the French shipowners to Bay St George, and that they feared that the French would assume territorial rights as well as practically ruin the inhabitants catching all the bait, they wanted instead of purchasing it as before.
Mr. Justice Pinsent in reply observed (I copy this from his own manuscript], “That under the Treaty of Utrecht the whole of the island was declared to be the rightful territory of Great Britain, and to be under its absolute sovereignty. The terms of this treaty in this respect have never been abrogated or abandoned. I have never understood for a moment that the Crown has ever in any degree allowed any sovereign or proprietary claim on the part of France. The easement reserved to the French by treaty is no more secession of sovereignty or dominion than are the privileges conferred by treaty upon the United States America. The presence of British ships of war, of civil officers, and the right of popular legislative representation enjoyed by the people of the coast and its subjection to taxation and customs and regulation, with the presence here of the Supreme Court of this island and its dependencies, with jurisdiction over the adjacent seas and with cognisance of offences committed upon the banks of Newfoundland all attest this position which is in now wise annulled by the permissive presence of a French naval force for the discipline and protection of their own marine.” This is absolutely conclusive, and it is accordingly certain that the French will never become possessed, unless the fortune of war should give it to them as it took it away, of any portion of the Newfoundland coast. … (continues) … …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0747 Hennock: Robert John Pinsent: 1834 – 1893