TARIFF AGREEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 746, 19 February 1910, Page 5

TARIFF AGREEMENT.

■ ~—-< CANADA AND GERMANY. "NO PREJUDICE TO PREFERENCE." DIPLOMATIC INDEPENDENCE. By Telecraph-Press AEsociation-Copyriehi. London, February 17. The Toronto correspondent of "The Times" comments on the new tariff agreement between Canada and Germany, the points of which have been defined as follow:—Firstly; Germany abandons the contention that Canada must admit her to the British preference. .iSecondly, Germany is merely admitted to the Canadian general tariff; thus Canada does not imperil her relations with Washington. Thirdly, the agreement operates from March 1, and can bo terminated on two months' notice.

The correspondent states:—Thus far Canada has made no material conces-;' sions in order to regain her old position in' the German market.. There is nothing in the present agreement calculated to complicate her' relations with the Motherland, or to prove embarrassing in the case of early negotiations for general preference between the Motherland and tho Dominions." GERMANY WAS HARD HIT BY THE SURTAX. BRITISH TARIFF REFORMERS DRAW ' • A MORAL. • DIRECT TREATY-MAKING 'BY-THE DOMINION. ■ • , Berlins February 17. • There is lively satisfaction in Berlin that commercial peace . Canada, has been attained. ! : - London, February 17. United ' States and Canadian v ; papers anticipate that the Canadian-German agreement'presages the establishment of the Dominion's diplomatic independence. Comment is made regarding England's non-assistance of / Canada : during • the struggle with Germany.

The Gorman surtax put on by Canada aggregated.' thirteen' million dollars since 1903, and reduced trade from fourteen million. to. seven and 'a 'half million.' '

■ Several Unionist newspapers ascribe the agreement as the outcome, of the rebuff to tariff reform given at the British elections; : .• , ;

. Ottawa, February 17. .;- -It is i reported that Germany intends building;. a. handsome ■ Consulate-General in Ottawa. .

'A DENIAL FROM CANADA; (Rec, February 18, 10.55 p.m.). Ottawa, February 18. : The ''Ottawa Free Press," referring to the suggestion- by some of tho Unionist newspapers that the tariff agreement between Canada and. Germany is the outcome of the rebuff .to. tariff reform: given at",tho British,elections,: says that'the British' elections did not; influence Canada in her . negotiations /with . Germany. A PARTIAL, ARRANGEMENT, TO PAVE THE. WAT FOR A. BETTER UNDERSTANDING. GERMANT WANTS SAME TERMS AS FRANCE. Ottawa, February 17. ~ The Canadian Minister of. pnance, Mr.. W, S, Fielding, in l tho Dominion House of . Cpmmons said that .'Germany desired the benefits of, the JVanc&Caha'diaii Cdjfc. vontion on tho. same terms - as had been given to Franco.. ;. ..' 1 - Mr. Fielding added that the moment* vrus unfavourable for; entering ; into,, nogotiations- for a- comprehensive treaty; hence ' the present partial arrangement, which' calculated to promote' a. bet-, ter understanding. .:' : ' . UNITED STATES. WOULD PREFER ,TO NEGOTIATE DIRECT. Lqndon, February 17. ;,' Hie authorities' at Washington- have informed -the . British Ambassador, Mr. James Bryce, that the United ' States is ready ,to negotiate with Canada—preferably direct—in order to avoid automatic application to Canada of the United States .maximum., tariff.'. The United States' will probably send two experts fc> Canada to collect data.. •