RECIPROCITY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10630, 8 May 1912, Page 5

RECIPROCITY

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(United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph — Copyright.)

CANADA AND AMERICA QUESTION IN THE COMMONS, (Received Last Night, 10.15 o'clock.) LONDON, May 7. In the House of Commons, Mr Henry PageOroft, Unionist member for Christchurch, asked whether the Government would reconsider the question of Imperial preference, in order to defeat President Taft's design to I make Canada an adjunct of America. The- Right Hon-. H. H. Asquith replied that the letters'of President Taft and Mr Roosevelt were private. Sir James Bryce, British Ambassador, had knowledge of their contents. There was nothing in the correspondence to make the Government alter its policy regarding preference. Sir James Bryce had only seen the Hon. Mr Feilding in order to learn the facts. He only gave assistance when asked. The Canadian people would resent interference. Sir James Bryce's action had inspired confidence ini Canada. He 7 would support the policy of the present Government in an equal degree to his predecessors. Mr Page-Croft moved the adjourn- ' ment of -the House. He accused the Government of supporting an Amer-ican-Canadian reciprocity. Sir Edward Grey repudiated the unfair attacks made upon the Government. Sir James Bryce, he asserted, did nothing whatever to : induce Canada to accept President Taft's proposals. He was present during the negotiations. He asked", Did the critics of the Government think Sir Jas.' Bryce ought to have stopped the negotiations? If (Sir James Bryce had shown a reluctance to support the. Canadian Government, it would have been difficulty to resist the demand for separate diplomatic representation.