THE RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13051, 10 March 1911, Page 3

THE RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT.

MR. BRYCE'S CONCLUSIONS

[Press Association—Copyright.]

(Received March 9, 11.20 p.m.) London, March 9

In a Wliite Paper published by the Foreign Office Mr Bryce, Ambassador at Washington, states that the negotiations betwean Canada and the United States were extremely involved. When it became apparent that it would bo impossible to restrict the agreement to natural products, but that manufactures would be included, ho pointed out to Mr Feilding that the extension might involve consequences not altogether desirable by reducing or removing British preference. Mr Fielding replied that his party intended to maintain preference. Mr Bryce adds that as he is at pro sent advised he is disposed to believe that British interests will not be appreciably prejudiced. He states that lie lost no opportunity during the negotiations of reminding the Canadian Ministers of the regard which it was right and fitting they should have for Imperial interests, whilei doing their best for Canada. Such reminders always found a frank and cordial response. Where tho arrangements oversteps the limits of natural products it was probably influenced by tho United States' traditional policy for promoting closer economic relations betwoen the States of the Western Hemisphere. Such a policy was not chocked by the rapidly growing national conspicuousness of those States. Neither in Canada nor the republics of Latin America, where the United States sought to extend the PanAmerican propaganda, is there* a likelihood of a freer interchange of commodities loading to closer political relations.