CANADA AND THE STATES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 258, 10 March 1911, Page 5

CANADA AND THE STATES

STATEMENT BY BRITISH ' AMBASSADOR.

BRITAIN NOT APPRECIABLY PREJUDICED. By Cable—Press Asseciation—Copyright. Received 11.20 p.m. London. March 9. In a White Paper, published by the Foreign Office, the Right Hon. James Bryce, the British Ambassador to the .United States, states that the negotiations between Canada and the' United States were extremely involved. When it became apparent that it would be impossible to restrict the agreement to natural products, but that manufactures were to be included, he pointed out to Mr. Fielding, the Canadian Minister, that this extension might involve consequences not altogether desirable, by reducing or removing British preference. •Mr. Fielding replied that his party intended to maintain that preference.

Mr. Bryce adds: "As at present advised, I am disposed to believe that British interests are not appreciably prejudiced," and states that he lost no opportunity during the negotiations of reminding the Canadian Ministers of the regard which was right and fitting that 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 will probably be influenced by the United States' traditional policy for promoting closer economic relations between the States of the Western Hemisphere, and such a policy would not be checked by the rapidly-growing national consciousness in those States that in neither. Canada nor the Republics of Latin America, where the United States sought to extend its Pan-American propaganda, is there any likelihood of freer interchange of commodities leading to closerpolitical relation.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. THE FOREIGN SECRETARY'S REPLY. Received 10, 12.15 a.m. London, March 9. In the House of Commons, speaking to the vote on account, Mr. Balfour paid a generous tribute to Mr. Bryce, but blamed the Government for mis-instruct-ing him. It was right that the ambassador 'should help the self-governing Dominion, but the British manufacturer also was entitled to assistance. The only bright spot was the announcement in Sir Wilfrid Laurier's speech that he intended to bring preference forward at the Imperial Conference. It was clear that preference was not dead in Canada, and certainly not in Britain. Sir Edward Grey declared that but for Mr. Bryce's tact and skill in the last two years, Canada would have demanded its own representative at Washington. Fortunately the relations between P»ri tain and Canada had never been better, and the worst service that could be done to the relations between Britain and Canada would be to attempt to impede the reciprocity negotiations.

CANADIAN MINISTRY IN THE MAJORITY. NO DELAY POSSIBLE. Received 10, 12.20 a.m. Ottawa, March 9. The House cf Commons, by a majority of 42, rejected the Conservative motion in favor of postponing the reciprocity agreement pending the action of the new Congress. Mr. Fielding declared that Canada was in nonor bound to pass the agreement, whatever action the United States Senate took.