$250,000,000 Word

Some two centuries ago His Majesty George III (1738-1820) assigned to Newfoundland the "coast" of Labrador. Upon the meaning of "coast" and a few similar technicalities has hung for more than a generation the most important case ever submitted to the Privy Council, a case involving $250,000,000, a case now finally decided.

To discover what George III meant by "coast" the Privy Council turned to the first great English dictionary, work of that inspired if pompous king of 18th Century letters, Dr. Samuel Johnson. Once George III encountered the great Doctor in the Royal Library, and very considerately shouted in his ear during a brief audience, knowing him to be deaf. The Privy Council cited the dictionary of Dr. Johnson as defining what George III meant by "coast" as follows: "The edge or margin of land next to the sea [and also], a considerable tract of land bounded by and looking towards the sea."

The "considerable tract of land" is worth in this instance $250,000,000. The Privy Council awarded it to Newfoundland a fortnight ago, and quashed the claim which Canada has pressed for 25 years that Newfoundland should have only the "edge or margin" and Canada the hinterland or "inland" coast, rich in vast mineral deposits unsuspected by George III.

Last week Canadians and Labradorians jabbered so widely and intensively over the new settlement that one Rabbi Isaac de la Penha of Montreal rose up and told the press that a quarter of Labrador belongs to him by an ancient royal grant which he cited glibly but was unable to produce.