“Put Yourself in his Place:” The Newfoundland Fisheries question, admirably summarized by Mr. Justice Pinsent in “The Nineteenth Century,” has readied a very critical stage, and the public seems hardly to realize the dangers with which it is fraught. It is not remarkable that ignorance should prevail on the subject, for since 1886 no papers have been presented to Parliament. It is, however, notorious that the British and French Governments have once more endeavoured to come to some arrangement with regard to the still-vexed question of the fisheries, but that the arrangement is to be adopted only during the approaching fishery season. Whatever may be its merits or demerits, it has failed to satisfy the person’s most concerned, namely, the Newfoundlanders themselves, who have indignantly repudiated the compromise made on their behalf by the Home Government. It is said that they have acted precipitously, and that better acquaintance with the terms of the arrangement will modify their views as to its character. This appears to be the cue of official speakers; and, pending the publication in full of the negotiations, it is impossible to say how for the modus vivendi constitutes an improvement upon the existing condition of affairs, or does justice to the rights of the people of Newfoundland. It is well, however, that the public should understand once for all what a very serious question this is. It is easy enough for us to make pleasant little compromises with the French Government: to show our good feeling towards the Quai d’Orsay by giving up in an ungrudging spirit what does not belong to us, and to prove our sincerity to our sweet enemy by scolding our countrymen in Newfoundland. The operation gives a fine scope for the exhibition of generous feeling, unselfish magnanimity, and impartial justice. But to this, as to most other matters, there are two sides. Let us see how the question presents itself to the Newfoundlander, and what would be our own feelings if we were subjected to similar usage. Let us suppose that at the beginning of the century Portugal, after having been thoroughly beaten on land and sea by Great Britain, had been forced to give up all her conquests save one: that by the carelessness of our diplomatists she had been allowed to retain of the islands of Lewis and Arran, with an exclusive right of fishing the coast of Scotland from Greenock to Dundee. Suppose that this right further carried with it the privilege of landing on any part of the coast … (continues) … [The Scots Observer]
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Referenced
GRO0747 Hennock: Robert John Pinsent: 1834 – 1893