CANADA'S FISCAL POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 319, 19 February 1910, Page 5

CANADA'S FISCAL POLICY.

THE AGREEMENT WITH GERMANY. A BETTER UNDERSTANDING. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright 1 Ottawa, February 1.. The Hon. W. S. Fieiding, Minister for Finance, speaking in the Dominion House of Commons said Germany desired the benefits of '.he Fnuico-Canadian convention on the same terms as France. Mr. Fielding added that the present moment was not a favorable time for entering into negotiations for a comprehensive treaty, hence the present partial arrangement, which was calculated to promote a. better understanding. • The Times' Toronto correspondent says' thus far Canada has not made any material concessions in order to regain her old position in the German market, and that there is nothing in the present agreement calculated to complicate her relations with the Motherland or to prove embarrassing in case of early negotiations for general preference between the Motherland and the dominions. • I

It is reported that Germany intends building a handsome consulate-general at Ottawa, Lively satisfaction is expressed in Berlin at commercial peace with Canada having bee7i established. Received February 18. 10.55 p.m. Ottawa, February 18.

The Free Press at Ottawa denies that the British elections influenced Canada's negotiations with Germany. UNITED STATES READY TO NEGOTIATE. London, February 17. American and Canadian papers anticipate that the Canadian-German agreement presages the establishment of the dominion's diplomatic independence. Comment is made upon England's nonassistance of Canada during the struggle with Germany. The German surtax in Canada aggregated thirteen million dollars since 1003, and reduced trade from fourteen millions to seven and a half millions. Several Unionist newspapers ascribe the agreement as the outcome of the rebuff to Tariff Reform at the English elections.

Washington has informed Mr. Bryce that the United States is ready to negotiate with Canada—preferably direct —in order to avoid an automatic application of the maximum tariff. The United States will probably send two experts to Canada to collect data.