COMMERCIAL PEACE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7057, 19 February 1910, Page 5

COMMERCIAL PEACE

WELCOME ATTAINMENT LIVELY SATISFACTION DISPLAYED IN BERLIN. WHAT CANADA HAS DONB. By Telesraph—PreES Association—OopyTlcht, LONDON, February 17. Tlicro is lively satisfaction in Berlin that commercial pcaco with Canada has been attained by means of tho provisional agreement just entered into between Germany nnd tho Dominion. Speaking on the matter in tho Dominion Houso of Commons, tho Canadian Minister of finance, Mr W. S. Fielding, said that Germany desired tho benefits of tho Franco-Canadian. Convention on tho snmo terms aB France. Ho added, that the .moment was unfavourable for entering into negotiations for a comprehensive treaty; hence the present partial arrangement, which was calculated to promote a better understanding. Tho Toronto correspondent of "Tha Times " states:—" Thus far Canada has mado no material concessions im • order to regain her old position, in tho Gorman market. Thero is nothing ia tho present agreement calculated to complicate her relations with the* - Motherland, or prove embarrassing in tho case of early negotiations for general preference between tho Motherland and tho Dominions."

NEWSPAPER COMMENT. CANADA'S DIPLOMATIC INDEPENDENCE PRESAGED. United States and Canadian papers anticipato that tho Canadian-Gorman agreement presages tho establishment : of tho Dominion's diplomatic independence. Comment is inado regarding England's non-assistanco of Canada during tho strugglo with Germany. Tho ■ Gorman surtax put on by. Canada aggregated 13,000,000 dollars since 1903, and reduced trade from 14,000,000 dollars, to 7,500,000 dollars.. Several Unionist newspapers asoribe tho agreement as tho outoomo" of tho ■ rebuff to tariff reform given at the> British elections. It is reported that Germany intends ' building a handsome Consulate-Gen* ral in Ottawa. NO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. (Received February 18, 10.55 p.m.) ; • OTTAWA, February 18. Tho " Free Press " denies that th« British elections in. any -way influenced Canada's negotiations with, Gcrr. many. / UNITED STATES HEADY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE } DOMINION. Tho authorities at Washington have informod tho British Ambassador, Mr James Bryce, that tho United States ; is roady to negotiate v/ith Canada—preferably direct—m order to avoid automatic apjjication of the maximum tariff. Tho United States will probably send two experts to Canada to collect data.