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APRIL 1, 1949
“CONFEDERATION WOULD BE FATAL TO OUR FUTURE”
Although the act creating the new province of Newfoundland (now Newfoundland and Labrador) came into force just before midnight on March 31, 1949, ceremonies marking the occasion did not take place until April 1.
In Newfoundland, official events were concentrated in St. John's. There was a brief swearing-in ceremony at Government House for the new lieutenant-governor, Sir Albert Walsh, who then accepted a Canadian citizenship certificate on behalf of all Newfoundlanders. Those present at the ceremony listened to a broadcast of the ceremonies in Ottawa before attending a reception. Later in the day, Walsh swore in the first members of the interim government. Despite the fierce contest that had led to this point, the day passed very quietly, with little demonstration either for or against Confederation.
The official ceremonies at Ottawa took place on Parliament Hill. The Peace Tower carillon began by playing "Squid Jigging Ground," a traditional Newfoundland song. Official speeches then followed, coming from Prime Minister St. Laurent and F. Gordon Bradley. Bradley was chosen to act as the new province's first representative in the federal government; Smallwood would become the first premier.
St. Laurent then made the first few cuts into a blank escutcheon that had been reserved for Newfoundland's coat of arms since the reconstruction of the Centre Block after the fire of 1916.
After a speech from the Governor General, events concluded with the singing of "God Save the King," "Ode to Newfoundland," and "O Canada." As events were broadcast via radio, people from Newfoundland were able to listen in.
Archbishop Edward P. Roche, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of St. John’s was an ardent anti –Confederate. He was a supporter of the return of Newfoundland to responsible government and as a determined opponent of Confederation with Canada Roche gained much notoriety in the late 1940s. The campaign for confederation found in him one of its fiercest opponents.
He was convinced that no good could come to Newfoundland from Confederation. The archbishop argued through the pages of The Monitor, the diocese's Roman Catholic monthly newspaper that before confederation was considered, responsible government— as promised by Britain — was the way to go. He was actively involved in the 1948 referenda campaigns, encouraging all Newfoundlanders, but particularly Roman Catholics, to vote for the return of responsible government.
In a letter to Father John Fleming, Parish Priest of Marystown in February 1946 he wrote “…I am definitely and strongly of the opinion that Confederation would be fatal to our future. “
Archival fonds:
Archbishop Edward Patrick Roche fonds
Reverend .John Fleming fonds 200/F/2/1
Recommended Reading:
Library and Archives Canada Canadian Confederation website, which tells the story of how Canada came to be, from the original four provinces in 1867 to the present. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-2230-e.html
For more information on this and other related subjects contact the Archives of the R.C. Archdiocese. www.stjohnsarchdiocese.nf.ca
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Larry Dohey
Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John’s
P.O. Box 1363
St. John’s, NL
A1C 5M3
709-726-3660
E-mail: archives@nf.aibn.com
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