CANADA AND THE STATES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 236, 10 February 1911, Page 5

CANADA AND THE STATES

ATTEMPTS AT AMENDMENT

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. New York, February 8.

Congress is likely to endeavor to amend the reciprocity agreement. Papermakers believe that the States might be compelled to admit paper free before Canada granted the same concession. The Committee of Ways and Means in Ike Home of Representatives admits tkat there is such a danger. Mr. Knox, Secretary of State, approached by manufacturers, declared that the paper schedule was merely tentative, and it was possible, he said, to change the schedule without affecting the treaty, and this probably would be done.

ANOTHER SESSION OF CONGRESS.

New York, February 8. President Taft says that an extra session of Congress will be held if the reciprocity measure is not passed.

A MINISTER'S STATEMENT.

A RETRACTION DEMANDED,

Ottawa, February 8. The Hon. Price Ellison, Minister of Finance in British Columbia, will be sued for libel unless he retracts the statement that Jim Hall, the great railroad magnate, furnished £12,000 to grain-growers at Manitoba to urge reciprocity.

DEBATE IK THE COMMONS.

6PEECH BY MR. AUSTEN CHAMBER LAIN.

NEED FOR IMPERIAL PREFERENCE.

Received 9, 9.55 p.m. London, February 9.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Austen Chamberlain said that the CanadianAmerican agreement was the most conclusive instance of the value of a tariff for the purpose of commercial negotiations. It would have a far-reaching effect, take Canada out of the Imperial orbit, and draw her into the vortex of foreign politics. The agreement was hastened by the process of the United States of throwing land out of wheat cultivation into other forms of cultivation, such as maize. As to America's draining of Canadian wheat supplies, it would result in dearer food, and also give an enormous stimulus to stockraising in the United States, which would be placed in a more favorable position to secure Canada's vast resources. There was more urgent need than ever for Britain to come to terms with the other dominions before they were beset by foreign suitors..

Mr. Buxton declared that the Government still believed that preference would be injurious to Britain and the Empire. Had preference been in force, Canada would have had to consult us, and local interests would have been arrayed against Britain, and might have brought the chain binding the Empire almost to snapping point, pnly one and a half per cent of British imports to Canada were affected. Seeing that America was a corn-exporting country, the more Canadian wheat America imported the more American would come to Britain, thereby lowering the price.

AIR. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN. Received 0, 9.55 p.m. • London, February 0. Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, in a letter to the Tariff Commission, says he cannot help feeling that Canada was rather premature, and that she might have awaited the Imperial Conference. The ratification of the agreement would mean a radical change in the policy of Canada, ■which had hitherto been independent and national. He adds, "The fight for tariff reform must be carried on with unabated vigor." v THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR. MR. TASTS MOVE EFFECTIVE. Received 10, 12.50 a.m. New York, February 9. Reciprocity is declared to he the greatest political question of the hour in the United States. Mr. Taft's statement regarding the extra session is likely to cause the Senate to yield. BETTER NEWS FOR BRITAIN. A MINISTERIAL ASSURANCE.

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE ALWAYS POSSIBLE. Received 10. 12.50 a.m. Ottawa. February 0. Mr. Fielding states tliat the Canadian Government views with alarm the statements in the British Press that the reciprocity agreement with America will ho detrimental to trade between Canada and Great Britain. The right to arrange British preference, he says, is unaltered, and no discrimination will be made favoring the United States.