CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1054, 18 February 1911, Page 5

CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.

AN ''UNFORTUNATE" SPEECH. NO THOUGHT OF ANNEXATION ' IN AMERICA. INTERESTING PREDICTIONS. Us Telegraph-Press Aseoclatlon-Copyrisht London, February 16. . Correspondents stato that Mr. 'i'aft desires.it to bo known abroad that his Administration Ims ho thought of annexing Canada. I It is considered that Mr. Clark's remarks woro unfortunate. Mr. Clark maintains that his spccch was largely facetious. Sir Wilfrid Lauricr continues to decline to treat Mr. Clark seriously. The "Daily News" says that Mr. Taft's repudiation roduces Mr. Clark's observations to absurd rhetoric. The "Pall Mall Gazetto" remarks that one result of tho Agreement will bo tho sweeping out of tho British Columbian fruit industry. A TORONTO WARNING. < DANGERS OF RECIPROCITY. London, February 16. Tho London papers give prominence to remarks by tho "Toronto News" regarding reciprocity. Tho "News" says that Canada should bo careful ;iiot to' destroy her interprovincial trade, and become a string of disconnected provinces. "England knows that tho fate of tho Empire rests with.Canada: With her trade settled in American channels, with now population without reverenco for British traditions, and with no inherited loyalty, wo should strengthen the influences of Continentalism." In conclusion, tho "News" urges that there should bo no unthinking haste on tho part of the Legislatures to endorse tho agreement without adequato consultation with regard to the business interests of tho country; FORCED INTO UNION.

DISORGANISATION OF TRADE. , London, Febrdary 16. At a dinner at the Canada Club, Mr. Atwater, formerly Attorney-General in tho Quebec Government, predicted that tho Reciprocity, Agreement between Canada and tho United States would disorganise tho relations between Canada and Great Britain, and that Canada would bo forced into political union with the United States. If tho agreement were abrogated, .Canada would take, a generation to recover from tho dislocation of trade. ■ NO IMPERIAL ENCOURACEMENT. STATEMENT BY MR. ASQUITH. . ~: ■ I *Lbndoii,' February 16. ... In th6.-Housa' Mr.'Asquith, Prime Minister, denied tho statement reported to'havo been made by Mr. Bourassa, Leader of tho Quebec Nationalists, to tho effect that the Imperial Government.. had Canada to mako tho agreement with the United States. He also denied that Mr. James Bryce, British' 1 Ambassador to tho United States, had actively helped in the promotion of the agreement. 7 MOTION IN CONGRESS. • . New York, February' 16. In tho Houso .of Representatives, Mr. Bennett, a Now York Republican, who voted against the Reciprocity Agree-' ment; introduced to-day a resolution requesting tho President, to negotiate with the British ■ Government, With a view to the annexation of Canada to tho United.States,.,. t Tho, motion, was'referred to'the Committec:oh Foreigu Affairs.; ' - TO PREJUDICE THE AGREEMENT.

CONGRESSMEN'S VIEWS, - , (Rec. February 17, 11.25 p.m.) , London, February 17, Reuter's Washington correspondent reports that members' of Congress who aro favourablo to the Reciprocity Agreement aro of opinion that Mr. Bennett's amendment demanding the opening of negotiations for tho annexation of Canada is simply calculated to prejudice its final approval. ' ■ As tho outcome of a consultation bctween Mr. Taft and several leading Senators, it is believed that Senator.'Lodge will bo asked to lead the fight for reciprocity in tho Senate, with Senator Root, ex-Secretary of State for War, to support him. ; ■ "RHSICNED TO RECIPROCITY,"'

'ATTITUDE AT OTTAWA. (Rec. February 17, 11.25 p.m.) London, February 17. Reuter's Ottawa correspondent states that interest is flagging in tho Canadian House of Commons debate on tho Reciprocity Agreements This/ ho adds, probably indicates that Canadians-are becoming resigned to reciprocity. ANNOYANCE IN CANADA. THE ANNEXATION RESOLUTION. (Rec. February 18, 1.10 a.m.) , - . Ottawa, February 17. The friends of reciprocity are 'an-, rtoyed' at the annexation resolution in tho American'Houso, declaring that it is..intendedto arouse: a scare in Canada and lead, to a refusal to ratify tho reciprocity agreement. ■Washington circles profess to regard tho resolution merely as a political move, .unattended by much significance. Tho Foreign Affairs Committee in the Houso is believed to intend to treat tho resolution in all seriousness. Tho resolution empowers Mr. Taft at. any fitting time to negotiate with Great' Britain.