Untitled

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 40, 17 February 1911, Page 7

A PREDICTION.

CANADA AND UNITED STATES. "FORCED POLITICAL UNION." DELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright^ (Received February 17, 8.10 a.m.) LONDON, 16th February. At a dinner at the Canada Club, Mr. 'Atwater, formerly Attorney-General in j the Quebec Government, predicted that I the Reciprocity Agreement between Canada and the United States would • disorganise the relations between ■ Canada and Great Britain, and that Canada would be forced into political union with the United States. If the agreement were abrogated, Canada would take a generation to recover from -the dislocation of trade. DENIAL BY MR. , ASQUITH. MR. BOURASSA'S RECENT. STATEMENT. (Received February 17, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, 16th February. In tho House of Commons, Mr. Asrqtiith, Prime Minister, denied thestate■ment reported to have been made by Mr. _ Bourassa, Leader of the Quebec Nationalists, to the effect that the Imperial Government had encouraged Canada to make the agreement with the United States. He also denied that the Right Hon. James Bryce, British Ambassador to the United 'States, had actively helped in the promotion of the agreement. REMARKS BY A TORONTO PAPER. \FATE OF EMPIRE RESTS WITH CANADA. ><IJ rHERE SHOULD BE NO UNTHINKING HASTE." (Received February 17, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 16th February. Tho London papers give prominence ■to remarks by the Toronto News regarding reciprocity. The News cays that Canada shottld be careful not to destroy her interprovincial trade, and become a string of disconnected provinces. "Engknd knows that the fate of the Empire rests with Canada. With her trade settled in American channels, with new populations without reverence for British traditions, and with no inherited loyalty, we should strengthen the influences of Continentalism."' In conclusion, fche News urges that there should be no unthinking haste on the ■past of the Legislatures to endorse the agreement without adequate consultation with, regard to the business interests of tho country. CHEERING IN AMERICAN PARLIAMENT MR. CHAMP CLARK'S STATEMENT. MR. TAFT'S PROMPT DENIAL. LONDON, 15th February. There was great cheering in the United States House of Representatives, members standing and applauding when Mr. Champ Clark, Leader of the Democrats, said the time was coming when Britain would gladly yield her possessions in North America to the United States. President Taft promptly denied tnat any political significance attached io reciprocity. Mr. Clark's friends assert that he did not mean anything except jocularity. Mr. Champ Clark explains that his reference to Canadian annexation was merely a humorous expression of his individual opinion. [Mr. Clark was first elected a member ■of the United States House of Representatives in 1889. He is a lawyer by profession.] THE MAJORITY IN FAVOUR OF THE BILL. MAINLY DEMO~CRATS AND INSURGENT REPUBLICANS. NEW YORK, 15th February. The majority in favour of the Reciprocity Bill consisted mainly of Democrats and insurgent Republicans, as th& Regular Republicans voted against the Bill. SIR W. LAURIER. "' J REFUSES TO TAKE MR. CLARK SERIOUSLY. CANADIAN CONSERVATIVES' OPINION. OTTAWA, 16th February. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Canadian Prime Minister, replying to a question in ihe Dominion Houss of Cammonsj refused to treat Mr. Clark's speech seriously. Speakers on the Government side emphasised the slight effect of the proposed tariff changes on British preference. Canadian Conservatives declare that the real meaning of the United States' move is clear. AMERICAN ENTHUSIASM. ENGLISH PRESS COMMENTS. CANADA HAS BEEN OFFERED A HEAVY BRIBE. LONDON, 15th February. The Pall Mall Ga^ptte says American enthusiasm over the agreement is I naturally overwhelming when it is held to signify the peaceful acquisition of a new rich Empire for the Stars and Stripes. Canada had been offered a heavy bribe, but if a practical sign of help from the Motherland were forthcoming {h& temptation would not prevail for a single day. The Westminster Gazett« declares it has no faith in any scheme for a united Empire which would place the population under an obligation not; to do what is manifestly to its interests. Several correspondents write to tho newspapers commenting on the fact that the idea of the ultimate annexation of Canada is spreading amongst statesmen in the United States. A RAILROAD MAGNATE. IN EXPLANATION. NEW YORK, 16th February. Mr. James J. Hill, the railroad magnate of tho United States, denies that he aided Western Canadian fanners m their campaign for reciprocity. He favoured reciprocity, but had not given money to advance the movement. [It was stated some clays ago that the Hon. Mr. Ellison, Minister for Finance in British Columbia, was to be sued for libel unless he retracted a

statement that Mr. Jim Hill furnished £12,000 to grain-growers in Manitoba to urge reciprocity.] WHAT MR. TAFT DESIRES TO BE KNOWN. "NO THOUGHT OF ANNEXING CANADA." ABSURD RHETORIC. (Received February 17, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 16th February. Correspondents state that My. Toft desires it to be known abroad that his Administration has no thought of annexing Canada. It is considered that Mr. Clark's remarks were unfortunate. Mr. Clark maintains that his speech was largely facetious. Sir Wilfrid Laurier continues to decline to treat Mr. Clark seriously. The Daily News says that Mr. Taft's repudiation reduces Mr. Clark's observations to absurd rhetoric. The Pall Mall Gazette remarks thai .one result of the Agreement will be the -sweeping out of the British Columbian fruit industry. PROPOSED ANNEXATION. MOTION TABLED IN THE UNITED STATES PARLIAMENT. REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE. (Received February 17, 1 p.m.) NEW YORK, 16th February. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Bennett, & New York Republican, who voted against the Reciprocity Agreement, introduced to-day a resolution requesting the President to negotiate with tho British Government with a view to the annexation of Canada to the United States. The motion was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.