As Premier he once again tried to negotiate free trade with the United States . It failed because of the objections of US senator Henry Cabot Lodge . Teddy Roosevelt tried to intervene but was not successful and it ended the friendship between the two nations . Relations between the United States and Newfoundland deteriorated to the point where in November 1905 in Bonne Bay local fisherman clashed with Americans trying to buy bait on shore . In 1904 Bond was re-elected with a clear majority . He went on to settle the French Shore issue which gave Newfoundland full control over the island . Following the 1907 Imperial Conference , Newfoundland and the other self-governing British colonies were given dominion status and Bond formally became the first prime minister of the Dominion of Newfoundland
1907 Imperial Conference
1907 Imperial Conference
Robert Bond