New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-13
THE DOMINION OF CANADA.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE DOMINION PARLIAHENr-
THE SAN JUAN UATION
OF THE DEBATE ON THE WASHINGTON

PROCEEDINGS OF THE DOMINION PARLIAMENT
THE SAN JUAN BOUNDARY-CONTINUATIoN
OF THE DEBATE ON THE WASHINGTON
TREATY.
OTTAWA, Canada, May 1f.-Sir A. L. Gait,
the House. last ght asked whether the Government
had taken any steps to have the claims and interests OF
the Dominion specially represented In the reference to
the Emperor OF Germany Of the question Of the San Juan
boundary. 49,
Sir John A. Macdonald replied that Her Majestys GOV
eminent had communicated with the Canadian Govern
ment the subject desiring to get all the Information
that in their possession in order to make up case
be presented the arbitrator The Canadian Govern
ment consequently communicated with the Provincial
Government Of British Columbia and an elaborate state
ment had been prepared under the charge OF the eu
enanGoyernor and Attorney General from BrlIl nt
Columbian and Canadian point OF view. This statenent
had been sent home to England in time TO be incorpo
rated with the and in order to prevent any delay In
obtaining further information, the Government OF Brit
ish Columbia had been placed In direct communication
pointed on behalf Of the Canadian government to argue
the subject before the arbitrator.
The debate on the Treaty OF Washington being re-
sumed, MI Mills said he did not believe peace would be
endangered II the Treaty were destroyed On the CON
trary, he believed friendship with England was neees-
sary the United States check to Russian ambition
in the Pacific with Japan as its basis OF action.
Sir A. T. Gait was the principal speaker OF the evening
He argued from the independence OF Canada standpoint
and said that 1t was most essential position or Great
ened by the refusal Of Canada to give consent TO that p0r
ton Of the Treaty submitted to her He therefore be-
mental evidence the table OF the House, the Imperial
Government had put upon the Canadian Ministry
they could not resist The alternative OF com
pancc separation from the parent country had been
presented ana shrinking from accepting the latter the
Canadian Government had consented To take the course
now under discussion. Sir Alexander then went on TO
argue that peace with the United states Is necessity TO
Great Britain He dsproved OF OF the clauses OF the
Treaty. and believed that every concession TO the United
States was q step toward annexation He favored the
independence Of Canada, which, In his opinion, would
he the means OF preventing annexation The position Of
the Dominion he held 10 he of weakness 10 the En-
pre. He prepared to show his loyalty by withdraw
ing that of weakness: SO long as Canada was
OF the Empire, he held that she must accept the
Imperial policy He further believed that peace would
be endangered IL the Treaty rejected and there
fore, in loyalty to the Empire he should accept the
Treaty. He argued that Great Britain was bound, If We
desired give notice OF the termination of the Treaty
at the end years and IT, at the end Of that time
not able TO take position OF independence We
be content to be subject TO the consequences OF our
feebenCss.
Sir John A. Macdonald begged TO state most distinctly
that threat pressure any kind direct or indirect
had been used by Imperial Government in relation
the Treaty. aud called attention to the Queens speech
which showed that Canada had exercised free and un-
restricted choice In the matter. He dscaimed all re-
sponsbity the part OF the Government for the utter
ance OF gentleman who was not member or the Adj
mnisiratiUu.
The debate will be resumed on Monday, and division
will be taken Oh Tuesday.