CANADA AND U.S.A.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10168, 18 February 1911, Page 5

CANADA AND U.S.A.

I CABLE NEWS

United Press Association — By 'Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

"FORGED POLITICAL UNION.''

DENIAL BY MR ASQUITH.

(Received February 17, 8.10 a.m.)

LONDON, February 16. At a dinner at the Canada Club, Mr Atwater, formerly Attorney-Gen-eral iti the Quebec Government, predicted that the Reciprocity Agreement between Canada and the United States would disorganise the relations between Canada and Great Britain, and that Canada would be forced into political union with the United States. If the agreement was abrogated, Canada would take a generation to recover from the dislocation of trade. In the House of Commons, Mr Asquith, Prime Minister, denied the statement reported to have been made by Mr Bourassa, Leader of the Quebec Nationalists, to the effect that the Imperial Government had encouraged Canada to make the agreement with the United States. • He also denied that the Right Hon. James Bryce, British Ambassador to the United states, had actively, helped in the promotion of the agreement. The London papers give prominence to remarks by the Toronto News regarding reciprocity. The News says that Canada should be careful not to destroy her interprovincial trade, and become a string of discontented provinces. ''England . knows that the fate of the Empire rests with Canada. With her trade settled in American channels, with new populations without reverence to British traditions, and with .no inherited loyalty, we should strengthen the influences of Continentalism." In conclusion, the 'News urges that there should be no unthinking haste on the part of the Legislatures to endorse the agreement without adequate consultation with regard to ,the ; business-interests; of the country. ' ' ' Correspondents state that Mr Taft desires it to be known abroad that his Administration has no thought of annexing Canada.

It is considered that Mr Clark's remarks were unfortunate. Mr Clark maintains that his speech was largely facetious.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier continues to cline to treat Mr Clark seriously. . The Daily News says that Mr Taft's repudiation reduces Mr Clarke's observations to absurd rhetoric.

The Pall Mall Gazette remarks that one result of,the agreement will be the sweeping out of the British Columbian fruit industry.

(Received February 17, 1 p.m. ) NEW YORK, February 16. In the House of Representatives, Mr Bennett, a New York Republican, who voted against the Reciprocity Agreement, introduced to-day a resolution requesting the President to negotiate with, the British Government with a view to the annexation of Canada to the United States. , The motion was referred to the Committee of Foreign Affaire.

THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT. ■'

CANADA; RESIGNED TO RECIV PROCITY7 '

(Received Last Night, 11.25 o'clock.) • , LONDON, February., 17. Renter's Washingtoncorrespondent reports that the members of. the Congress are favourable to the Reciprocity Agreement. They are of, opinion that Mr Bennett's amendment demanding negotiations for the annexation of Canada ar« simply calculated to prejudice its final approval. As the outcome of the consultation by President Toft with several leading Senators, .it is believed that Senator Lodge will be asked to,lead the fight in the Senate with Mr Root, ex-Secre-tary of State. Router's Ottawa correspondent states that interest is nagging in the House of Commons debate. It probably indicates that the Canadians are becoming resigned to reciprocity.

THE ANNEXATION RESOLUTION,

IS IT TAKEN SERIOUSLY ?

(Received This Morning, 1.10 o'clock.)

OTTAWA, February 17

The friends of the reciprocity agreement, are annoyed at the annexation resolution, declaring that it is intended to arouse a scare in Canada, which would lead to a refusal to ratify the agreement.

Washington circles profess to regard the resolution as, merely a political move, and hot attended with any significance. The Foreign Affairs Committee of the House, it is believed, intend to treat the resolution with all seriousness.

The resolution empowers President Taft at any fitting time to negotiate with Britain for.the annexation of Canada.