TO ANNEX CANADA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1054, 17 February 1911, Page 5

TO ANNEX CANADA.

THIN EDGE OF THE WEDdE. PROGRESS OF RECIPROCITY BILL . IN CONGRESS. A REMARKABLE SCENE. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. ' ';' Washington, February 15. , . States llonso of Representatives passed .tlio Reciprocity Agreement by 231 votes to 02. . The Democrats folidlv. favoured tho Bill, but the Republicans split their vote. President Taft has caused it to be known that an extra session of Congress will be called if the Senate proves obdurate. It is impossible) to forecast the Senate's decision. The members of the House of Representatives fought bitterly. The Democrats welcomed Mr. Taft as a sheep to their fold. '

i Every ' method was adopted to delay the passage of the Bill. .... The Speaker . (Mr. J. Cannon), who is a bitter opponent of reciprocity, left the chair, calling a loading Democrat, Mr. James, of Kentucky, to occupy it. ANNEXATION. WHAT THE DEMOCRATS HOPE. 'APPLAUSE IN CONGRESS. • Washington, February 15. During the reciprocity debate, Mr. Champ Clark,'leader of the ,Democrats, said he favoured tho agreement because he hoped to sec tho day when the American flag would wave over eyery square foot of North America.' ' THE IDEA SPREADING. TARIFF REFORMERS POINT THE MORAL. • (Rec. February 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 15! , Several correspondents in the newspapers comment on the idea of Canadian annexation 'spreading amongst American statesmen. , There was great cheering in the United States House of Representatives, members standing and applauding, when Mr. Champ Clark said the time was coming when Britain 'would' gladly yield her possessions in North America .to the United States. • • ; The 'majority in favour of reciprocity was composed mainly of Democrats and Insurgent Republicans as the Regular Re-J publicans ,voted, against, the. Bill., .:. Tho "Pall 'ilall'" 'Gazette" '('.Tariff "Re-' form) says the American", enthusiasm over the agreement is 'naturally.';overwhelming when it is held to signify the peaceful acquisition Qf a new and rich Empire for tho. Stars ftiiU Stripes. Canada", had been .Offered a heavy bribe, but if a praotical sign ■ of; help wero forthcoming _ the temptation would not provail for a; single "'day. Tho "Westminster Gazette" declares that.it has no faith in any scheme of a united Empire which will place the population linder. an obligaton not to do .wliat NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I Ottawa, February' 15, Sir "Wilfrid Laurier, Canadian Premier, refuses to take Mr. Clark's statement 'seriously. V: : x .. PREFERENCE AFFECTED^ THE AGREEMENT. ATTACHED. SPEECH' IN -'THE''DOMINION' HOUSE. ' " Ottawa, February 15. In the Dominion Houso of Commons, the Hon. G. E. Foster, ex-Minister, for Finance, and a Conservative,' attackedthi Reciprocity Agreement,' as tending to . destroy British influence , throughout the Dominioli.' l The UnitedV States' policy, he said, was annexation, sooner or later.' British preference was certain to Suffer heavily, Of one hundred and two items lowered under tho Reciprocity Agreement 74 were items under which British ' preference was- lowered, , and thirty under which it was wiped out completely, Mr.-Foster alleged that Mr. Asquith had received inaccurato information regarding the basis of reciprocity. IMPERIAL RECIPROCITY. London, Fobruary 15. It is generally believed that reciprocity between Now Zealand, Australia, and Canada would tend to nullify the political effects' of Canada's reciprocity with the United States.