, 1860-08-17
IHE CANADIAN RECIPROCITY TREATY,


RfDciL d. f1,.tH
rc,ary Of the Tteasusy.l
The leading provision of The reciprocity treaty
ofJune S, 1854. was = permanent adjustment Of
the fishery Misunderstanding the rights Of the
respective pariies often and then in serious con-
flict. to tue fishing banks adjacent to the north
eastern Atlantic coast.
At tie conclusion Of the peace Of 1888, the
treaty between the United States and Great
Brtiain stipulated the right Of Americans "to
take fish on the Grund Bank and all other banks
Of Newfoundland, in the Gulf Of St. Lawrence,
and ull other places in the Sea, where the 1uhab-
i,ants of botl countries had been used before,
and the liberty to fish on such parts Of the coast
Of Newfoundland Is British fishermen used {but
not to dry or cure fish thereon), and on the
coasts, bays and creeks Of all olher British do
Elfnon8 in America"
The war Of 1879 ab1ogated the above. The
convention OF 1878 secured to the United States
The right to tisl a!l nlony the coasts and har-
bors Of British North America, but not within
three marine leagues Of the shore, aud to cure
fish in such bays and harbors rs were not in
habited, and also 10 enter any bay or hnrbor for
shelter. to repair damages, or to obtain proyis-
ions or Wa!er.
Such q provision made collision almost una
voil4ble. American vessels were frequently
seized within the three mile limit And cruis
ers, With enca recurring season, we're dispatch
ed to accompany and protect the fishermen.
Lord Etgin lately observed in aspeech at Lirer-
pool, that wien tbe negotiation of the recip.oc-
lty treaty Was in progress at Washington. "u
British admiral and an American commodore
were sailing on the coast with instructions
.olt ded upoa opposite conclusions, and a sr.
Ee iudissreet act on tue pant o. one or the 9TH,
er Of those naval officers would hare brought m
i c1utic. involving ali The horrors Of war;
Tile first Arlic!e Of The treaty was occunied
with IN adjustment oFtAis fishery question. II
was agreed thu. II addition 10 the libetty Sc
cur:d By the Convention Of O-tober 20, lslS. Of
taking, curing. md drying 6sh cn certain
co4tts Of the jsri!'sh North American colonies
therei1 defined, the inhabitants ol the United
States shall have, in common with the subjects
Of her B5itaric nssjssty The liberty TO take isl,
OF every kind, except shell tsh, on the sea cans,
a1d shores, sud in the bass :, 1asbo1s and creeks
Of Canada, SeT Brunswick, Nosa Scotia, Ed.
warts Island, and Of The several islands ada
cent thereto, without being restricted to INV
distance from the shore, with Permission tn ]and
upon the coas,s mud shores thereof, and also
u2on the Magdalen Islapda tor tue purposa nf
drxing their nets and curing their fish,
Tue preamble stated as q prominent motive
to the treaty, desire :" to avoid further mi:un-
outstanding in regard to the right OF isbirv on
ond article secured simtlar privilege to Brit
iah hjee:s on the eastern seacoasts. shores
and isiauds, north OF the thir,y-sixth parallel Of
north latitude.
Are parties who demand the a5rogation Of
tile treaty willing to remit the c3unt7y IN The
uncertainties and hazards Of the Convention Of
1915? Or do theY hope TO discrimin ate between
The first and third articles, retaining what is Of
exclusive advantage to the United States, while
discardiog those provisions which have proved
beneficial to cur provincial neighborss
Article four Of the treaty secures to the citi-
zsns and inhabitants Of the United States, the
freedom Of navigation on the River St. Law.
nni4 NJ oI1 u
subject. the same right upon Luke Michigan.
The hostility manifested in certain quarteTsis
probably founded upon the third article, y hich
admits the products enumerated in a schedule
annexed, heinI; tho growth and produce Of the
b;li1sh colonies aud The United States, respect
ively free Of duty.
Til. practical results Of this stipulation are
unchanged since President Pierce congratula.
ted the cou1lry in 1856. Successive secretaries
OF the treasury have been content To tabulate
the progress OF exports and imports under the
reciprocity treaty, the balance Of trade brinr
always favorable to the United States, In he
report just published, tais comparative state.
meut is c7ade u include the year terminating
June 80, 1853, and exhibits the increase Of ex.
poris for that ycas from the United States.
over 1he year 1s52. to be *17 Ga, ,l53: increass
Of Imports, 313.G17 BOZ excess OF exports over
imror:s, Ss.A2I d=3. (See "Report on the ii.
raaces," ls5S-513, page 357.)
~ II tAak H4utE LIE UA1& OF lie $fe3tT
Canada his Increased the datics upon imports.
especially by the tariff OF 1853. Granted: but
ta's is 70 reasonable ground for compla,nt,
Canada is careful to include in the free list
every article named in the schedule Of the
treaty; and, ns to the manufactured articles.
what right have We to demand tint the prcriu.
ces should encourage importations from, the
United States VIXEN our legislation Of 1915 inl-
posed dutlss s. as hlgh as thirty per cant, and
twenty -four per cent. upon Canadian manafac |
lures. Canada needs revenue; the public |
lands, as with "s, have ceased to yield any con.
siderable revenue, and 1t became public ne |
cessi!y to Increase the tariff. In doing so, how |
ran We ussert that Canada "has acted in bad
faith to the United States aud violated the spir1t
uf lie reciprocity treaty." to repent the cur.
rent complaints Of the New York journalist
But the most direct treatment Of the obiec. |
lions to the reciprocity treaty is to compare the
Canadian and American tariffs, especially iu
respect TO manufactures: