CANADA AND THE STATES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 289, 1 May 1911, Page 5

CANADA AND THE STATES

t:?m KxapROCiTY agreement. AT ITS MOST CRITICAL PERIOD. By cable.—Press Association.—Copyright New York, April 28. Mr. Taft, in a speech, declared that tl»e reciprocity agreement discussion has now reached its most critical period. He reiterated that the United States offered complete free trade to Canada, and criticised the Farmers' Free List Bill, declaring that if the United States granted Canada more than the agreement required the question arose whether this was not a pure gratuity which must be extended to all other nations under tlie most favored nation clause.

He denied emphatically that reciprocity would injure the American farmer, and added that if it were found that it do so the agreement could be revoked.

He was not an anti-Imperialist, but strenuously held that America would have sufficient on her hands present])' without dreaming of annexing Canada. He attributed the talk of annexation to the dreams of an irresponsible imagination. He declared that such people would like the picture of starry flags waving from Pailama to the North Pole. That was all bosh or a platform joke.

NEW WORLD ASCENDANCY. THE SCEPTRE OF EMPIRE. Nevf York, April 28. Speaking at a banquet, Mr. W. B. Northrup, member of the Canadian House of Commons, alluded to the prospect of the sceptre of the world's dominion passing one day from Europe to America. He said it would perhaps be necessary to fight for it, and he hoped that in such an eventuality Canada would stand side by side with the United .States, supported by the wealth and treasure of the sister nations under the Imperial flag.

CONSERVATIVES' UNCOMPROMISING - OPPOSITION. >

BUT A COURTEOUS CONSIDERATION. Ottawa, April 28. . Mr. R. L. Borden announces that uncompromising opposition will be offered by the Conservative Party to the Reciprocity measure. He makes suggestions, however, that will allow of Sir Wilfrid Laurier attending the Imperial Conference. TALK OF ANNEXATION AGAIN. "WHAT'UNCLE SAM WANT-' HE GETS." Received 30, 5.5 p.m. Washington, April 29. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Prince, of Illinois, speaking on the Tariff Bill and the pouring of Americans into the Canadian North-West, said the attitude of the Democratic Party, followed by efforts at free-trade, had only one aim, the annexation of Canada. Canadians ought to undeceive themselves. What "Uncle Sam" wanted he generally obtained. History showed this. Other speakers made no reference to Mr. Prince's speech.

CANADIAN CONSERVATIVES' OFFER. AND THE PREMIER'S REPLY. NO RECIPROCITY, NO CORONATION. Received 30, 5.5 p.m. Ottawa, April 2!). Mr. R. L. Borden has offered to Sir Wilfrid Laurier to end the existing deadlock in order to enable him to attend the King's Coronation, provided that the Government postpones the Reciprocity Bill. He urged that there was no need to hasten reciprocitly, and asked if the trade interests of the Empire were less important tlian those of the United States.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier replied that he would not go to London unless the Reciprocity Bill was allowed to pass. Mr. Borden then retorted that the Conservatives would maintain their opposition to the last. SIR WILFRID LAURIER'S ACTION. ITS INTERPRETATION IN ENGLAND. ALMOST A DELIBERATE AFFRONT. Received 30, 5.5 p.m. London, April 24. The Pall Mall Gazette says that if Sir Wilfrid Laurier's intimation that he will not attend the Imperial Conference unless bis opponents abandon their resistance to reciprocity prevails, his action will come within measurable distance of a deliberate affront to the Mother Country. Any doubts existing about the trend of reciprocity should be removed by President Taft's unabashed confession that only the immediate passage of the reciprocity measure eoukl avert the eonsummation of Imperial preference.