CANADA AND THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1048, 10 February 1911, Page 5

CANADA AND THE EMPIRE.

whaC reciprocity with ' means. ~ ~ . Tho Canadian correspondent of the "Standard if Empire," writing on December 28,- States: -\ ':■■ -;-. -■■■. ; ;-••'.''.. "The Dominion' of: Canada will.' enter upon the nfcß-year f uir of hope, arid confident of tile greatness which destiny holds in store 1 for ; her. f; The closing year has been bno of tecord-breaking in practically every branch of industry,'and in the general development of tho nations ■■■ :".lt is announced that the Hon;'AW S. Fielding, Minister for Finance,' and the Hon. IV. Paterson, .Minister for Customs, will go to Washington during theisecond week in January] ~*w fcsii'm'e' tlie'"negbtia': tions in connection with"; the tariff relations of Canada and the United-Slates. It is expected here that a treaty will be entered into without much delay, which will involve in the first place a considerable measure of. reciprocity, in the exchange of natural products. Neither Government has shown 4h'y anxiety to'interfere with thn present tariffs on manufactured'.articles. There is" little interest evinced in tho negaKati6n§,'ambng.'tho.*publio,''aiSd feeling is upon,the whole„ against;the idea of reciprocity; :"■•■■■:■'■. ■:';• ■ «:~r .•.'•'.'■'« i "There are not wanting men of. a.'jresnqhi,: sible and knowledgeable sort who iimrm that .geiiuino fiscal,reciprocity) between Canada and the States inUst inevitably lead to other- kinds \of reciprocity, and to an all-round drawing closer, between the two nations-of North America. 1 with a corresponding, of detachment between Canada and the Mother Country and the Empire. These ..gentlemen assert that, particularly since, tho inception .of the C.P.R.\ transcontinental and the., be-' ginning of Sir John A. Macdonald's fa-" mous "National Policy," the whole trend Of Canada's. development. has I been ;cast and west, or; in nther'words,-British -and. inter-Imperial; that reciprocity with the States ; means a reversaloorf r that great general tendency and the substitution' of a North and South;' or pro-American l and anti-Imperial tendency in our ment. -~',.- ~■.;. ' ' Inier-Emplre' Preference. "It is, of course, admitted that if in tho recent election in England a-Tariff, Reform majority, had been returned •;, to Parliament, there would have .been ,little further talk or thought here of fiscal reciprocity with-'the States.'- Tho'introduction" of iuter-Emnire Preference would hnve obviated'all call for that movement, and would unquestionably havo been warmly welcomed from end to end- of Canada. On the other hand,-niaiir authorities hero say now that. the, fears of the people previously alluded to. are qnito unfounded; and that a measure of trade reciprocity with the United States will, never be allowed to develop into any. other or more peneral kind of union;, or to militate against Canada s attachment to the British Empire. Wo certainly hart Sir Wilfrid's own nositive assurance that nothing shall be allowed to interfere with the preference to Britain. _ '-. . "But there are critics who affirm that reciprocity'with the States.could;not possibly be'introduced without permanent and progressive injury alike to the-Bri-tish preference and. Canada's; connection with tho Empire. The political situation couragement and some depression'among at Home has produced a feeling of disliuperialists'in'this and;'at,the moment singularly; little public; m>r . is being shown "in this big question ■ r'. the fiscal negotiations' with; our :.'greatneiehbour to the fouthward, whose ninetv millions of people are separated from this most fertile portion:of the Continent only by ap imaginary.line; 3000 miles long; a line which they arc crossing now in quest of homes in onr ; fruitful AVest in their thousands,'and with;ever-rncreas-ing energy and.snccess.;; ..;..• ■ "■'/ ,•