New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-29

1t Is announced IN an Important dIlOlC III
The London Times, which has been sent by
telegraph to The Toronto Globe, that Secre-
tary Evarts has proposed in the dispatch
which he sent at the instance of Congress,
complaining of the injustice of the Halifax
award, that Canada shall form customs
union with this country. He desires that she
shall adopt the American tariff. England
seems willing to allow her full scope.
THE PROPOSAL DISCUSSED.
GRAND CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED IN TRE
SCHEME.
LONDON. Tuesday. Aug 81, 1873
The Times POUNDS an editorial on what it deems
an entirely trustworthy communication from its
Philadelphia correspondent, that Americans desire
to renew negotiations for reciprocity treaty or
customs union with Canada. Il says:
Mr. Evarts's real object in opening correspondence
with he British Foreign Office about the Halifax
Award, probably to put the award aud new reel
prOcity treaty together so "a to obtain the
negotiation Of the latter az the same time the
former is lquidated The freedom OF hscal legis-
lation conceded to the Canadian Government
has been apparently unlmitedi yet there Is one
direction In which IL would seem restricted We have
allowed Canada as other colonies, complete freedom IN
the OF Its tariff dhe Dominion mini aha freely yaG
Kingdom while our MERCHANTS and manuiaeturers are
they are in Australia but dereDtal duties comforting
advantages OF a special nature have never been
could sanction 1t consistently with our treaty
obligations. We have In many commercial treaty. In
pledged 10 countries with which such treaties are sub
sstng, that advantage shall be given TO any Other
country 10 their deriment Commodities from the
United states suffered TO be imported into canada
duty free which would be liable 70 duty when imported
from France. from Italy from Germany. The stpu-
lation Of the favoTedsnaton clause would appear to be
brOkenAud IL is not easy 10 see how this obstacle to e
Washington proposal could be surmounted, with the ut
willingness our part that Canada should freely
consider it. Whether apart from the question
of our treaty obligations there would be any
disposition In Canada to assent to the proposal
OF the United States Government Is most doubtful;
Tae mind OF Canada can, however, be freely expressed
in the Parliament OF the Dominion. We are willing to
abide by IFS declaration even II the establishment OF
Gus oms Union with the United States were the result
When the subject was first raised some four years since
the Dominion Government protested mat they would
listen to suggestion for the admission OF mai
terms than those OF tile United Kingdom and we nave
TO suppose that any change OF sentiment mas
since been developed
The London press also discusses the subject at con-
siderable length. The Times in another editorial
says:
The Canadians are exceedingly tsnacous OF their In
dependence, authority and selt-goyernment. they
claim to constitute y99g beu tSG nonnar ling IN
Canada the Government at Washington are about 70
propose that The Dominion shall merge It's existence IN
that Of the Union. In respect Of all fiscal legislation,
Canada would become another state su do 10
ment appear quite unconscious that thelr
proposition can be regarded as startling They have IN
no degree realized the intensity Of feeling that prevails
on the other OF the border In favor Of the assertion
and maintenance OF separate independent existence.
IL may Do doubted II the Cabieet az Washhgton can
quite worked out in their own minds the character
OF the changes that would follow upon tne adopoR ot
their proposal The suggestion rom baSt.gSn 70 Ia'
the Dominion should adopt ne customs targ ~ Ne Ght'
ted states Why must tue Parliament ~ lava uaoPt
the customs tarih OF the United states Ihg rsaIn ~
frankly stated The policy OF Congress has always been
policy protection. The citizens OF tine UNION are
firmly convinced that, however beneficial free
trade may be to Great Britain 10 would DO IN
furious to themselves without saying tnat tes% views
could not under any circumst Dc cna8g Ihest "
present prospect OF this The fiscal pOhcy OF the
t Z dropped that the PROVISIONS Of the arH could
revised according 20 the recommendations OF joint
eoRId tins Ss donei would Congress be willing to
delegate its authority I'm the matter OF tarifs
one tari would be that OF the United states, win few
or no notifications An identical tarh being mus es-
ablisued ali revenues received under t would now INTO
one treasury ana the proceeds would De subsequently
divided i'm proportion TO population. or according 10
are told all barriers espionage the borders OF the
Union and Dominion could be removed and free trade
SERIOUS OBSTACLES IN THE WAY.
IL will however, be easily seen that the realization OF
this result involves much than identical Gus
toms tariff. Excise duties must be identical as well as
customs duties. II the duty on whiskey IN Canada
we're less than il is Kentucky, the best Bourbon might
he driven out OF the market In consequence OF the in
equality A telegram from Philadelphia yesterday, told
us that inland revenue receipts for July and August had
fallen Of and It was proposed to lay an additional duty
ON malt liquors. 1t is obvious that If the customs lines
were abolished along the LAKES there must be the same
duties on malt liquors on DOta sides Oh Tue llNe;
Internal duties the stairs have been much reduced
and snDUd since the termination OF me NaT DuJ tney
arc still plicatcd and numerous. The establishment
of a Ioyerein raises at once, as NUd in Germany,
all questions which lie at Lie thFeshola OF pOtea I
sion aud this particular case 1t Is as difficult 10 suppose
that Canada Yad abate jO of It's authority rs tGat
the Government OF the United states are prepared TO
ACCEPT decision OF questions or nsca pOcy eL any OOuy
! la which they are not supreme
We might 20 further II t we're necessary me est1D,
sbment Of identical tradeS-laNes would necessarily be
followed by cry Tor the ldentncallun OF al eOhdohs
relative 20 trade II Canada and this United States are
mon postal SYSTEM or merchants IN BunllO ana TORONTO
York ana merchants IN Montreal and Boston In dealing
with Halifax. Had the Government at washington
thought OF any Of these things when tdey resolved to M
tariff OF the United States because 1t was
based policy that could mol DO sli
necessary consequences Of step they taking
Canada has the fullest liberty OF regulating us hth'
subject TO the single CONDITION ihaI tho import uuos
mposed must be- The same for all Hit admitted nann-
acures VI the United states duty iret must hdlIt
manufactures most OF the countries OF the continent
uuty also. British manufactures might theoel ANY
remain subject to duties, bat no ono can suppose thab
ihls ridiculous consequence would be maintained we
beeyc that the United states has entered into some
commercial treaties, incorporating tde most favored
nation clause, and II TINS s." All nAtlobS tut nave
lnmc such treaties with the United Staios could pour
their manufactures into the Union ON the same cOnuton
ms Canadian manufactures, unless 10 was agreed that
Canada was ngtOa ana thar, therefore, the eXco-
fOual treatment afforded It raised no 0Blgaton 10
give the same Treatment To other coubes lne tutn'
however, is that the existence OF te most layoreu ma
ton clause IN almost all modeTn eoIimet .it
tie DAYS are past treaties OF reciprocity establishing
dlcrentd duties In respect OF different nations frOh-
ises give the same treatment 70 al are eOneIseht
with projects OF giving special treatment 10 aNOflte or
fayOrles. This induces "a conviction That Tree uade
il bshed between Canada and the United satos II
must under other conditions than those cOnllVed Dy
the Government at Washington.
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