CANADA AND THE STATES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 241, 17 February 1911, Page 5

CANADA AND THE STATES

CRITICISM IX CANADA. By Cable—Press Association—Copy right. Ottawa, February 15. Canadian shipping and commercial circles regret that Australia is unable to make an acceptable proposal as to the mail service. Generally it is believed that receprocity between New Zealand, Australia, and Canada will tend to nullify the political effects of Canada's reciprocity with the United States. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Foster, ex-Minister of Finance, and a Conservative, attacked the reciprocity agreement, saying that it tended to destroy British influence throughout the Dominion. The United States policy, he continued, was annexation, sooner or later, and if the agreement was ratified British preference was certain to suffer heavily. He further stated that of 102 items lowered under the 72 were items lowering the British preference, and 30 others wiped out preference altogether. Mr. Foster alleged that Mr. Asquith had received inaccurate information regarding the basis of the reciprocity agreement. THE AMERICAN. FEELING. The House of Representatives passed the Reciprocity Bill by 221 to 92. The, Democrats solidly favored the Bill, and the Republicans split their vote. Mr. Taft caused it to be known that an extra session of Congress would be called if the Senate was obdurate. It is impossible to forecast the Senate's decision.

In the House of Representatives there was a bitter fight, the Democrats welcoming Mr. Taft as a sheep returned to their fold. Every method was adopted to delay the passage of the Bill. Mr. Cannos, the Speaker, who is a bitter opponent of reciprocity, left the chair, calling 'on a leading Democrat, Mr. A. D. James, of Kentucky, to occupy it. AN AMBITIOUS AMERICAN. SHOWS HIS TEETH. New York, February 15. During the reciprocity debate, Mr. Champ Clark, leader of the Democrats, said he favored the acceptance of the treaty because he hoped to see the day when.the American flag would wave over every square foot of North America. SIR WILFRID LAURIER'S REPLY. Ottawa, February 15. Sir Wilfrid Lanrier .states that iMs refuses to take Mr. Clark's statement seriously. ANNEXATION OF CANADA HINTED. MR. CHAMP CLARK GOES FURTHER. Received 16, 5.5 p.m. London, February IC.

Several correspondents of newspapers comment on the idea of annexation of Canada, which is spreading amongst Americnn statesmen.

There was great cheering in the United States House, members standing and applauding when Mr. Champ Clark said the time was coming when Great Britain would gladly yield her possessions in North America to the United States.

The majority on the Bill consisted mainly of Democrats. The insurgent Republicans, as with the regular Republicans, voted against the Bill. XEW EMPIRE FOR THE STARS AXD STRIPES. Received 18, 5.5 p.m. London, February lfi. The Pall Mall Gazette says: "American enthusiasm over the agreement is naturally overwhelming when it is held to signify the peaceful acquisition of a new rich empire for the Stars and Stripes. Canada has been offered a heavy bribe, but if a practical sign of help from the Motherland is forthcoming, the temptation will not prevail for a single day." The Westminster Xews declares that it has no faith in any scheme for a united empire which would place its population under an obligation not to do what was manifestly to its interests.

ONLY JOKING. CANADIAN CONSERVATIVES SEE IT NOT. Received 17, 1.15 a.m. New York, February 10. Mr. Champ Clarke explains that his reference to Canadian annexation was merely a humorous expression of individual opinion. Mr. Taft promptly denies that any political significance attaches to it in reference to the reciprocity scheme. Mr. Clarke's friends assert that be did not mean anything except jocularity. The Canadian Conservatives, however, declare that the real meaning of the United States has been made clear. Ottawa, February 10. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, replying in the Commons to a questioner, refused to treat Mr. Clarke's speech seriously. Government speakers in the debate emphasised the slight effect of the proposed tariff changes on British preference.