CANADA AND AMERICA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 114, 6 February 1908, Page 9

CANADA AND AMERICA.

! The .."Standard's" New York special correspondent snya:— ... I understand that tho negotiations between Great. Britain arid ,'tho United States concerning'. the 'questions" outstanding between Canada and this country ;will bo concluded in a few, days,' and tl)o arrangements readied will bo omjiodied in a treaty. An agreement. lips practically been.arrived at oil all. the points at.issuo, about 16 in-number.' ■ Canada had already agreed to rofor to tho Tribunal at Tho Hnguo thQ Atlantic fisheries quostion, as, Newfoundland has "hers, but thoro remained' tho ,Paoifio and Greit Lakes' fisheries and also tho Preservation of tho seals in Sea. Great Britain agrees to aid'tho Government of tho United States to punish; illegal polagio sealing in return for payment by America of 20 per. cent, of the gross takings. .! delimitation of the Alaska boundary hue is nearly finished. Mr. Hoot,'the American Secretary of State, wishes' tho lino drawil from tho St. Lawreneo through tho Groat Lakes to tho. Lake of Woods, to bo recharted. Tho subject which has presented tho most difficulty is that of' tariff reciprocity. Canada was disposed to iniposo an export duty on her woods, while Mr. Roosevelt, in hiß recent Message, emphasised America's desire for free lumber for her pulp paper, industries. Mr. lioot's first proposol was tho adoption by Canada pf tho American tariff law Grc&t Britain unci then IVoo Trodc between this country and Canada. Sir Wilfrid Laurier's immediate rojection of this proposal caused a modification in Mr. Boot's attitude, who then asked that Cimiula should give' concessions to American manufacturers ill return for a reduction of duties on Canadian raw products., Minor points, o!" discussion have been the joint application of ; the alien and labour lawx oi the two countries, reciprocal mining lights, the exemption of Canadians from an entrance head tax, and the transit of merchandise across Hiu intermediate tcrritorv. A very interesting point is involved in' an arrangement to revise tho agreement of 1617. which limits 'the number and - if naval vessels o|i tho Great Lakes, so as to meet the desire of the American Lake shipbuilders to buikV small warships for the navy. Theso . builders liavo already constructed cargo steamships of great size. The growth of tho inland sea tonnage is one of the most remarkable developments of recent years. The intended equipment of the Bremerton naval station, near Seattle, indicates further- American activity on the boundary line.