The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-20

HALIFAX, N. S., Feb. 10, 1872.
The chronicle, In reply to an editorial In the
Toronto Globe ridculing the story or the secret
treaty, reasserts its authenticity, and says 1t
Is creditably informed that it was signed
after the conclusion OF the washington
negotiations by Lord DE Gray for the
British government and Sir John A. Macdonald, as
Premier Of Canada on the part Of the Governor
General. The chief points had been mutually
agreed upon between the two governments some
years previously, and, so far Great Britain was
concerned 1t had then been definitely settled Us the
basis Of her future colonial policy.
When Lord Bury long since published his draft Of
the treaty 1t was not deemed advisable to reduce
the understanding to the shape or formal CON-
pact. until the apparently satisfactory conclusion OF
the Alabama di flculty by the Washington Treaty
had, as was thought, finally relieved England from
danger and further entanglements on this Con.
tinent.
The CHRONICLE says that only Lord Lisgar, Sir
John A. Macdonald and Sir George F. Cartier are
cognizant of the treaty, and mentions some circum-
stances which indicate the fact OF Its existence.
The following are the principal points In the artt.
Gle referred to in the foregoing despatch:-
Somebody has been playing or q joke upon
our contemporary OF the Halifax Chronicle From
information recevea OF IAN extracrdipary and
treaty exists between the Dominion and Imperial
governments providing for the peaceful separa.
ton or the two countries. II there Is any one
VINO feels alarmed at this disclosure let him
allay his fears with the assurance that had
any sucn document been signed. sealed and
sworn TO between the two alleged parties, 1t
would not have been worth the paper 1t was written
upon. Treaties are maze between independent
rulers not between the sovereign and her servants,
such as Governor General. There may, or course,
be agreements as to policy between the government
of Canada and the Colonial Office, but there Is no
treaty making power either in the British Ministers
or in the Privy Council OF the Dominion.
II there were ever to arise Minister In Canada
who could engage IN such an intrigue, he would De
checkmated IN an instant by his own Parliament;
and, SO long as we have free represent
tatve institutions our fate Is In our
own hands. We have, however, clue to
the discovery OF this latest ''mares nest"
Some seven or eight years ago, at time Of consid
cradle popular excitement In England as to the
state or our Canadian defences, visC0unt Bury,
son-ln-law OF the late Sir Allan McNab, who mad
been Civil secretary In Canada to Lord
Elgiu, and afterwards to Sir Edmund Head,
wrote BOOK called 1.-The Exodus OF the western
Nations" Inspired no doubt, by temporary
rounding influences, Lord Bury Incorporated IN
this very heavy piece OF literature scheme tor the
separation OF Canada from Great Britain. The
people OF England have, since Lord Bury wrote,
attained q much higher appreciation Of the value
and importance OF colonial connections than they
possessed In 1865, and the British Minister who
detected In any conspiracy 10 disintegrate the
empire would be accorded as short snrilt as the
Canadian who should be found 10 be his &C