Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-22
1rcar, NegolIalIon, with canaaa.

THE CANADIAN SIDE OF TIE QUESTION.
Washington dispatches announce that
negotiations are still going on. with a view
to the new treaty of commercial reciprocity
with the Dominion of Canada. Secretary
Fish conducts the negotiations on behalf Of
our government. and Sir Edward Thornton
British minister. and the Hon. George
Brown. Senator Of the Canadian Dominion
act As plenipoteniiaries on the part OF Great
Britain. 1t j. understood a rough outline
Of a new treaty j. now the subject Of inyes-
tigation and discussion The Canadians
put what i, deemed a most ex3roitant
value on their fisheries, they assert that
the roconces>ion Of shore privileges to Us,
under tie Washington treaty, has already
doubled the tonnage ofour fishing feet from
1869. They insist that the result Of arbi-
tration must be awarded in their favor
equal to a very large rental for twelve
wears An enthusiastic gentleman
from one Of the maritime provinces,
who has been hunting Up evidence for
the arbitration. declares 1t to be established
by irresistible evidence. based on adyant-
ages aceruing in past years to the nlted
States. that the ialr rental We ought to pay
l. $500 900 per annum. The Canadian,
contend It ! very generous Oh their part 70
propose merging OF this great Interest IN a
eneral commercial management, the chief
advantage from which must necessarily
accrue to the United States They totally
deny the correctness Of the general impress
sion that they had the best Of the bargain
under the treaty of 1854, and insist that the
contrary was the fact. To sustain their
ground they enter into a long showing of
figures from Official returns and CONNER
clal statistics. In regard t. the repeal Of
the treaty Of lisa the Canadians allege it
has not had the effects that were antici-
pated on either side of the line and though
1t has changed very much the character Of
their foreign commerce, they are more pros
porous than they ever were. They say IL
compelled them 10 seek new markets for
their surplus products, and that this
brought 10 them a larger carrying trade
with foreign countries. which wa formerly
done by the United States. and which they
have found very profitable. Our returns of
the entire traffic between the countries dur
ing the thirteen years existence of the
treaty ~llNN FFAAut OF ATALt OF no les
than So 900 600. with a cash balance in
our favor of over $50 900 600. The Cana
dian accounts show gr0s. traffic of SG23.-
600 900, and a balance in our favoroi S95.-
600 200. The Canadians think that
this traffic coald stand very well
on its own merits, and that any
country in the world would give q large
consideration to have the share in such
trade that we cfioved hn- they mint ?, tho
vast carrying traffic from Canada to our
ocean ports, and rioe rcrs0. which We also
enjoyed during the operation Of the treaty
to the free use Of their nsh0rs fisheries.
which We got for nothing 10 the use of
their canals on the payment Of tolls that
barely paid cost. wages and repairs. and to
the free navigation of the -. Lawrence river
without consideration. as giving an over
whelmIng prep0nderance of advantages in
favor of the Jnited States from the treaty
Of 1854
The Canadians, however. fully recognize |
the absurdity of any people complaining Of |
he commercial policy other nations NAV |
-hink proper to adopt. They venture to |
.hink. however. that n different course |
-Oward Canada would lead to a very large |
Increase Of mutually profitable business /
between the two countries. They say they |
never wanted to ask iavOrs from ANYBODY. |
md do not want any now, but if the nited |
states think It their interest 10 merge the /
ishery question and all other troublesome |
questions In a comprehensive treaty. they
III cordially agree to any equitable settle
neni calculated 10 place the commercial re-
atlOns OF the two countries on friendly 1
nd unieifered and mutually advantageous
asis.