Dominion Of Newfoundland

Alright, let's peel back the layers of this historical footnote. Newfoundland, eh? A dominion, they called it, for a stretch. From 1907 to 1949. Sounds like a rather protracted adolescence, wouldn't you say? A period of trying on different hats, only to eventually shed the whole ensemble and join the larger family.

Newfoundland: A Dominion in Name, a Colony in Practice (1907–1949)

So, Newfoundland. It was a British dominion, technically, from 1907 until 1949. That's a rather long time to be considered an equal, only to end up… well, integrated. It encompassed the island of Newfoundland itself, and that vast, often overlooked stretch of mainland called Labrador. It was one of those dominions, you see, established by the Balfour Declaration of 1926, which, in theory, meant it had a constitutional status on par with the others. The Statute of Westminster, 1931, even cemented this, though it wasn’t entirely applicable to Newfoundland's peculiar situation.

But here's the kicker, the twist that makes this whole chapter rather… bleak. In 1934, Newfoundland became the only dominion to voluntarily relinquish its self-governing status. Imagine that. Trading autonomy for… what, exactly? Stability? It ended 79 years of self-rule, a rather significant chunk of history, just like that.

The reasons? A fiscal implosion. A crisis, really. By 1932, the public finances were in tatters. They'd poured a fortune into building a railway across the island by the 1890s, and then, of course, there was the matter of raising their own regiment, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, for the First World War. Noble, perhaps, but financially ruinous. By November 1932, the government was practically admitting they'd default on their debts. The British, naturally, swooped in. They established the Newfoundland Royal Commission to, you know, "inquire and report." Such a polite way of saying "figure out how to clean up this mess."

The commission’s report, delivered in October 1933, was rather… decisive. They recommended Newfoundland surrender its self-government, temporarily, mind you, and let the United Kingdom take the reins via an appointed commission. And so, the Newfoundland parliament agreed. They petitioned the King himself to suspend the constitution, to appoint these commissioners. To facilitate this rather drastic measure, the British Parliament passed the Newfoundland Act in 1933. And on February 16, 1934, six commissioners were appointed – three from Newfoundland, three from the UK – with the governor presiding. This Commission of Government held sway until Newfoundland finally merged with Canada in 1949, becoming its tenth province. A rather ignominious end to dominion status, wouldn't you agree?

Name and National Symbols: A Faded Grandeur

The official designation was simply "Newfoundland." Not "Dominion of Newfoundland," as some might have assumed. The distinction is subtle but significant, appearing in official documents like the Statute of Westminster, which enumerated the full names of the realms.

The flags… well, they tell a story. The Newfoundland Red Ensign served as the de facto national flag until 1931. After that, the Union Flag took precedence, officially, though the Red Ensign persisted as a civil ensign until 1949. It’s like clinging to a past glory, isn't it? A bit of faded velvet.

And the anthem. "Ode to Newfoundland." Written by Governor Sir Cavendish Boyle in 1902. Adopted in 1904, it served as their anthem until they joined Canada. It’s still sung, apparently, though only the first and last verses. A melancholic echo of a former self.

Political Origins: Roots in the Old World

Newfoundland, you see, was the granddaddy of English colonies in North America. Claimed first by John Cabot for Henry VII, then again by Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1583. It took its sweet time to become properly settled, but by 1825, it was a Crown colony. Representative government arrived in 1832, and then, the real prize, responsible government, in 1854. Philip Francis Little even managed to lead the first administration.

They sent delegates to the Quebec Conference in 1864, the one that birthed Canadian Confederation. But Newfoundland wasn't biting. They rejected it soundly in the 1869 election. Even Sir John Thompson, a Canadian Prime Minister, came close to bringing them into the fold in 1892. But it wasn't to be.

It wasn't until the 1907 Imperial Conference that the idea of dominion status was floated for all self-governing colonies. And so, Newfoundland joined the club, celebrating Dominion Day on September 26th each year. A day to commemorate their newfound, or rather, inherited, status.

The First World War and its Aftermath: Scars and Debts

This section, it seems, needs more than just a few citations. It needs a narrative that truly captures the grim reality.

Newfoundland's own regiment, the 1st Newfoundland Regiment, fought in the First World War. And on July 1, 1916, at Beaumont Hamel, on the first day on the Somme, they were virtually annihilated. Ninety percent casualties. A horrifying statistic. Yet, they persevered, earning the prefix "Royal."

But the pride came at a steep price. The war debt, the pensions, the cost of that island-spanning railway… it all piled up. By the post-war era, the government was drowning in debt.

After the war, Newfoundland, like the other dominions, sent its own delegation to the Paris Peace Conference. But they didn't sign the Treaty of Versailles in their own name. They didn't seek membership in the League of Nations. A peculiar hesitation, a reluctance to fully embrace their independent status.

The 1920s were a mess of political scandals. In 1923, the attorney general arrested the Prime Minister, Sir Richard Squires, for corruption. He got out on bail, of course. A commission of inquiry followed, and soon after, Squires’ government collapsed. He managed to claw his way back in 1928, thanks to the unpopularity of his successors, but he was governing a nation crippled by the Great Depression.

And then there was the Labrador boundary dispute. A long-standing argument with Canada. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council finally settled it in 1927, largely in Newfoundland's favor, much to Quebec's chagrin. The boundary was set along the drainage divide, a complex line that Quebec still disputes.

Newfoundland’s implementation of its dominion status was, shall we say, gradual. They formally established a High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in 1921, adopted a national flag in 1931, and even created an external affairs department. But even with the Statute of Westminster, 1931, they requested its application be delayed. They never actually consented to it coming into force. Odd, isn't it? Holding onto a status they never fully embraced.

The End of Responsible Government: A Surrender

The Great Depression hit Newfoundland hard. Fish, paper, minerals – their economy was built on exports, and the world had stopped buying. Economic hardship, coupled with the rampant corruption, bred a deep dissatisfaction with democratic rule. In 1932, a crowd of 10,000 marched on the Colonial Building, the seat of government, forcing Prime Minister Squires to flee. He lost the subsequent election. The new government, led by Frederick C. Alderdice, appealed to the British government for direct control. The British, worried about loan defaults, sent in the Newfoundland Royal Commission, led by Lord Amulree.

The commission’s report was damning: Newfoundland's political culture was "intrinsically corrupt," and its economic future was bleak. The solution? Abolish responsible government and install a Commission. Alderdice’s government, in a rather dramatic move, voted itself out of existence in December 1933.

The Newfoundland Act, 1933, passed by the British Parliament, suspended the legislature and established the Commission of Government. The governor, reporting to the Colonial Secretary in London, along with the appointed commissioners, now ruled. Newfoundland was, in effect, a Crown colony once more, dominion status reduced to a mere formality. The Newfoundland Supreme Court even acknowledged this, stating the surrender of responsible government reduced the island to the status of a "pure Crown colony."

Second World War: A Strategic Pawn and Economic Respite

The global Great Depression finally loosened its grip with the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. Newfoundland, with its prime location in the Battle of the Atlantic, became a crucial Allied base. The Americans, in particular, built numerous installations. This provided much-needed employment for thousands of men, offering them their first real wages in years. The Avalon Peninsula experienced an economic boom, with Gander, Botwood, and Stephenville also seeing significant development. American influence and currency flowed in. Even the fishing industry revived by 1943. Government revenues quadrupled, and Newfoundland began financing loans to London. This wartime prosperity, a stark contrast to the preceding decade, reopened the question of political status.

The American Bases Act, enacted in Newfoundland on June 11, 1941, brought significant social changes, including intermarriage between Newfoundland women and American servicemen. A curious footnote, perhaps, in the grand narrative of the war.

In Labrador, a Nazi weather station was established in 1943, Germany's sole land operation in North America during the war. A small, almost forgotten detail.

A new political entity emerged: the Economic Union Party, advocating for closer ties with the US. They were branded as disloyal by the pro-Canada faction. No American initiative for union ever materialized.

National Convention and Referendums: The Crossroads

With the return of prosperity, the calls to end the Commission of Government grew louder. But the question remained: what next? Newfoundland, with its relatively small population of 313,000 (plus Labrador's 5,200), seemed too small to stand alone. In 1945, Britain announced a Newfoundland National Convention would be elected to advise on constitutional options. The possibility of union with the United States was considered, but Britain, and crucially, Canada, subtly steered the process away from that option. Britain offered two choices: return to dominion status or continue with the unpopular Commission. Canada, it seems, was keen on absorption.

In 1946, the Convention convened. After much deliberation, they voted to hold a referendum. Initially, it was between the Commission or responsible government. But Joey Smallwood, a charismatic nationalist, pushed for a third option: confederation with Canada. His motion was defeated, but he was relentless. He gathered thousands of petition signatures, sending them to London. Britain relented, adding the Canada option to the ballot.

The first referendum took place on June 3, 1948. The choices: Commission of Government, dominion status, or confederation with Canada. The campaign was fierce. Smallwood's Confederate Association championed union with Canada, arguing for parity with the mainland. The anti-confederation forces were split. Peter Cashin's Responsible Government League warned of Canadian imports and high taxes. Chesley Crosbie's Economic Union Party advocated for responsible government first, then closer ties with the US.

The result was inconclusive: 44.5% for dominion status, 41.1% for confederation, and 14.3% for the Commission. No option reached the required 50%. A second referendum was scheduled for July 22, pitting the top two choices against each other: dominion status versus confederation. This time, the vote was 52% for confederation, 48% against. Newfoundland officially joined Canada on March 31, 1949. A decision made, perhaps, more out of pragmatism than passionate desire.