CANADA AND THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1072, 10 March 1911, Page 5

CANADA AND THE EMPIRE.

IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE MR. BRYCE TELLS HOW HE WATCHED BRITISH INTERESTS. DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. Uy l'elcsrapb-Frcss Associatlon-Copjrient. (lies. March 9, 11.20 p.m.) London, March !). The. Foreign Office has published a White Paper containing correspondence relative to the Canadian-American reciprocity negotiations. Mr. Bryce, the British Ambassador at Washington, in one dispatch stated that the negotiations between Canada and the United States wero extremely involved. ■

When it became apparent that it would be impossible to restrict the agreement to natural products and that manufacturers would have to be included, Mr. Bryce pointed out to Mr. Fielding, tho Canadian Minister in charge of tho negotiations, that the extension, might involve consequences not altogether desirable by reducing or removing British preference.

Mr. Fielding replied that his party intended to maintain tho ' preference to Great Britain.

Mr. Bryce adds: "As at present advised I am disposed to. believe that British interests ara not appreciably prejudiced." Continuing he states that ho lost no opportunity during tho negotiations of reminding tho Canadian Ministers of the regard which it was right and fitting they should have for Imperial interests while doing their best for Canada. Such reminders always found a frank and cordial response. Where the arrangement oversteps the limit of natural products it was probably influenced by the traditional policy of the United States for promoting closer economic relations between the States as the Western Hemisphere. Such a policy will not be checked by the rapidly-growing national consciousness of those States. In neither Canada nor the Republics of Latin America, where tho United States has also sought to extend the Pan-American propaganda, is there a likelihood of tho freer interchange of commodities leading to closer political relations.

MR. BALFOUR CRITICAL, SIR EDWARD GREY IN REPLY. (Rec. March 10. 0.15 a.m.) London, March 9. In the House of Commons Mr. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, speaking to a Vote on Account, paid a generous tribute to Mr. Bryce, but blamed the Government for misinstructing him. It was right that an Ambassador should help a self-governing Dominion, but the British manufacturer was also entitled to his assistance. The only bright spot, continued. Mr. Balfour, was tho announcement in Sir Wilfrid Laurier's speech that he intended to bring the question of Imperial preference forward at the Imperial Conference. It was clear that preference was not dead in Canada, and certainly not in Great Britain.

Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, declared that but for Mr. Bryce's tact and skill during the last, two years Canada would have demanded her own representative at Washington. Fortunately the relations between Great Britain and Canada were never better than at present. Tho worst service that could be done to the relations of Britain and Canada would bo to attempt to impede the reciprocity negotiations.

THE DEBATE IN CANADA. MOTION FOR DELAY DEFEATED. (Rec. March 10, 0.35 a.m.) Ottawa, March 9. By a majority, of 42 votes the House of Commons rejected a Conservative motion in favour of postponing the Reciprocity Bill pending the action of the new American Congress. •.

Mr. Fielding, Minister for Finance, declared that Canada was in honour bound to pass the agreement whatever action the United States Senate took.

The Conservatives demanded a general election in order to ascertain the true feeling of the country.

Tho American Congressional elections took place in November last,' but the old House continued in office until Saturday last. .