RECIPROCITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12377, 10 February 1911, Page 5

RECIPROCITY.

.«. CANADA AND UNITED STATES. TARIFFS AND PREFERENCE. (Press Assn.— By Telegraph.^Copyrlght.) LONDON, Feb. 9. Speaking in the House of Commons. Mr Austen Chamberlain said tliat the Canadian-American agreement was the most conclusive instance Of '.the value of a tariff for the purpose of* commercial negotiations. It would have a farreaching effect, and would take Canada out of the Imperial orbit and draw her into the vortex of foreign politics. The agreement would hasten the process of the United States throwing, kind out of wheat cultivation into other •• forms of cultivation, such as maize: As America's draining Canadian wheat supplies would result in dearer food, also, man enormous stimulus to stock-raising in the United States, which was placed in a more favorable position to, secure Canada's vast resources, there was more urgent need than ever for Britain to come to terms with the other dominions before they were beset rby foreign suitors. Mr Buxton declared that the Government still believed that preference would be injurious to Britain and the JOmpire. Had preference been in force Canada would have had to consult Britain. Local interests would have been arrayed against British, and might have brought the chain binding the. Empire to snapping point. Only one and a half per centum of British exports to Canada were affected. Seeing that America was a corn exporting country, the more Canadian wheat that America imported the more American would come to Britain, thereby lowering the price. Mr Joseph Chamberlain, in a letter to the Tariff Commission, says that he cannot help feeling that Canada, has been rather premature. She ought to have awaited the Imperial Conference. The ratification of the agreement would mean a radical change in the policy of Canada, which hitherto has been independent and national. He Adds that the fight for tariff reform must be carried on with unabated vigor. '■ '• (Received February 10, 10.15 a.m.) Several Ministerialists, amid vigorous Opposition protests, declared that the debate on the Canadian agreement would be the cause of mischievous reaction in Canada, as Mr Austen Chamberlain's speech implied censure on Canadian statesmen. ' Sir Gilbert Parker, Unionist member for Gravesend, said he believed the Canadian people welcomed ' the discussion. Sir Joseph Ward has cabled to the Daily Express that as New Zealand is a sister Dominion of Canada, and bo intimately concerned, he would /rather not express an opinion on the-. reciprocity agreement, except to aay that, the proposal was of great moment to the whole Empire. „.,.,, '.".*. NEW YORK, February 9. Reciprocity is. declared the greatest political question of the' hour in the United States. President laft's statement regarding ah eWO'esi'ioh i s likely to cause the Senate to yield ■ OTTAWA, February 9. Mr Fielding, Minister .'.of . Finance, states that the Canadian Government views with alarm the statements in the British press that reciprocity will be detrimental to trade between. Canada and Britain. The right to arrange British preference is unaltered,, and. no discrimination has been made ,' fairing the United States. .'"..... WELLINGTON, this day. The Premier's message in- -this morning's cables was in reply' to,, al cable from the Daily Express, London, as follows: "How in your view does the»€anadianAmerican agreement affect ',' ' prefer en ce and federation?" (Australian Press Special.) OTTAWA, February 3. With the completion of 'the reciprocal negotiations with the United" States it is pointed out in many quarters that the introduction of inter- Empire preference would have obviated all call for the present movement, and would unquestionably . have been welcomed from one end of Canada to the other. Many authorities declare that the fears of the people regarding imperial development are unfounded, and that the measure for trade reciprocity with America will never be allowed to develop into a more general kind of union, of 'to militate against Canada's attachment to the Empire. On the other hand, there are critics who affirm that reciprocity between Canada and the United States cannot possibly be introduced without permanent and progressive injury alike to British preference and the Dominion's connection with the Empire. Britain may now have to face worldwide' competition in Canada's markets. On the whole there is a strong feeling that the arangements are unwise and inopportune, and this feeling will spread as it becomes apparent that most of the advantages w^uch the agreement affords would soon have been available without any agreement at all. TORONTO, February 3. Criticising the reciprocity, agreement with the United States, Mr Carrick, M.P., said: "We spent, £5;Q0O,O00 in grain elevators, but we might as well dump them into the lake, for all our wheat will now go to the United States millers, via Dulath, and Buffalo, and in American boats." LONDON, February .3. The Morning Leader discussing the Canadian-American reciprocity negotiations, remarks that the artificial tourniquet drawn across Canada is now removed, and the Dominion's life-blood able to flow freely north and'south. The agreement, declares the Leader, is a great triumph for Canadian statesmanship. The Daily Mail writes that Canada had no choice but to accept the United States' offer, but that -it i» -not certain that the agreement will be' signed. In the course of an article on Mr W. S. Fielding, the Canadian Minister of Finance, by whom the reciprocity negotiations with the . United States were conducted, the Dairy BSgrj^ says: — "His bitterest political-enemy' would be the first to vouch for £is.J}TJxsp)uto integ-, rity. His career has dwtirT|^tly raised the standard of .C^niWkui .pjublic life. while his association withrjjr Wilfrid Laurier points to him as..."cerlain to be the next Premier." -—-.-. WASHINGTON, JB^Kuary 3. Speaking at the Ohk> ;s&(3^ty « anniversary banquet, President-^aift recalled the last public utterances - 6T" President McKinley, made the day before his assassination, with regard to-Tilae relationship of .Canada and America-, and added, "May we not hope. that the change advocated may soon find expression in our national policy towards our good neighbors in the north, who have come halfway to meet us?"