Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-16
THE TREATYIN CANADA.

The Treaty of Washington is discussed quite
freely in the Canadian papers. While it does
not give entire satisfaction there appears to
be little fault found with it. The following
from the Montreal Gazette shows how it is
viewed in that quarter.
eve give elsewhere what we suppose must
be regarded as an official statement OF the
terms agreed upon by the Joint High Com
mission, from which it will be seen that in
spite of the reticence of the Commissioners,
some of the points had leaked out, and were
| from time to time given to the publlc. Inc
| Alabama claims are to be referred to another
| Commission to determine the actual amounts
to be paid. If the British and American gov
ernments are satisfied upon that point, we
have no ground of complaint, as our special
interest in this matter is the removal of so
serious a cause of dispute between the two
nations. On the questions upon which we
are more Immediately and directly interested,
the terms agreed upon will, at the first blush,
be very disappointing to the people of Canada.
The in-shore fisheries and the navigation OF
the st. Lawrence are given up forever, and
in return the Canadian sea-fshermen have
obtained reciprocity, that is, the right to fish
on the eastern coast of the United States-a
privilege not likely to prove of any great value
and the further right to take their fish into
American markets without payment of duty.
And beyond this, commission is to be ap-
pointed to determine the relative value of
these concessions to the two countries, and to
fix the amount of money, if any, to be given
to Canada as further compensation. VI the
advantages of such treaty to the maritime
provinces there can be no doubt. twill give
an enormous impetus to the fishery interests,
and to the trade generally; for while it en-
larges the market for the Canadian fishermen
| it gives an additional customer to the Cana
dian traderin supplying American craft. View
ed from the standpoint of the maritime prov
inces nothing could be more satisfactory.
So far as the provinces of Quebec and On
taro are concerned, many of the farmers in
which have looked forward hopefully to re-
newal of the Reciprocity Treaty, the arrange
ment arrived at will, as we have said, prove
disappointing. Not only is there no provis-
ion for better trade relations, but there is an
absolute postponement, humanity speaking
for all time of any prospect of such improv-
ed relations, in the giving up of all that we
had to offer in return for them. There is this
however, that is to be said. The free navi-
CATION of the ST. Lawrence to the Americans,
without let or hindrance, on the same terms
as Canadians themselves use it, Is simply at
tracing the trade of the great west through
Canadian channels, to the immense advantage
of the Canadian people; while to secure a
treaty of reciprocity with regard to our fisher
les is to enormously promote the interests of
one part of tbs Dominion, and incidentally of
the whole, and remove the expense of our
fisheries police and the chances of collision
which we constantly ran. More than this, it
gives US an assurance of peace, and in that
way removes barrier which has sometimes
seriously interfered with the investment of
capital in the country. These are the COM
pensating advantages, and when the Treaty
in full has been received, it will be easier to
strike balance.
! The Fenian raids, it will be noticed, have
not been made subject of inquiry, and the
cost. they imposed upon US has not been con-
sidered. There is but one course for the
government now to pursue with relation to
these viz to apply directly to the imperial
government for compensation. The attacks
upon us we're because of eur imperial con-
nection. They were the result of an imperial
quarrel with which we had nothing whatever
to do, and the least the authorities of the en-
pire can do would be to share with us the bur-
| den Of the cost