The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-11
TUPPER ON THE TREATY
SECOND READING OF THE BILL
MOVED AT OTTAWA.


Was a One-Sided Arrangement in
Favor of Canada - Its Abrogation
Brought About by Political Reasons
The Recent Commissioners Highly
Praised.
OTTAWA, April 10.-Sir Charles Tupper,
in the House of Commons this evening
moved second reading of the bill to ratify
the fisheries treaty. He reviewed the cir
cumstances connected with former treaties
between the United States and Great Brit
ain, concerning the fisheries of Canada Re-
ferring to the reciprocity treaty of 1854, he
said he did not know how any person in
either country could speak disparagingly of
that treaty or hold that it was a one
sided arrangement in favor of Can
ada. This treaty had brought
about great expansion of international
trade During three months he had re-
Gently spent in Washington, in which
period he had discussed the trade relations
| with leading men of the United States, he had
not found one single statesman who had ex-
pressed satisfaction at that treaty's termi-
nation, and he believed the great majority
of the people of the United States and
Canada felt that its termination had been a
mistake.
ON POLITICAL GROUNDS.
1t had not been abrogated for business
reasons, but rather on political grounds,
irritation having been caused in the United
States by a feeling that the British
provinces had largely sympathized with
the South i'll the struggles of the civil war
He thought that that irritation was not
justified, because the government of
Canada had done everything in its power
f,.t,. L. 8 eha
making use Of Canadian territory TO
harass the North, and, as far as
the Canadian people were concerned,
he believed that ten had done battle
in the Northern ranks for every one who
fought for the South. That large number
of Canadians had fought for the Union was
demonstrated by the fact that SO many
we're at present in receipt of pensions from
the United States authorities. But whether
justified or not, irritation did exist, and
brought about the termination of the treaty
of 1854
AMERICAN VESSELS IN CANADIAN PORTS.
He wished to correct the very general i'm
preston in both countries that Canada
acted harshly and unjustifably in refusing
to allow American vessels in Canadian
ports the same privileges that Canadian yes
sells enjoyed in American ports, and in
support of his contention showed how the
United States had, unlike England OF
Canada, by treaty formally renounced the
right to enter Canadian ports for any but
specified purposes. He was sorry the misap
prehension had inflamed the public mind in
the United States and led to the passage
of an act entirely uncalled for, the retaha
tory act, which was simply a non.
intercourse act, based on an entire misap.
prehension. Sir Charles narrated the cir
cumstances connected with his appointment
to the recent convention and his own choice
by the Premier 30 represent Canada. and
took occasion TO thank the Minister of JUS
tioe and Minister of Marine for the valuable
assistance they had rendered them at Wash
ingtonI l4e denied that there had been
any conflict between the interests of
Great Britain and Canada at
that convention. He declared that if in
stead of Sir Joseph Chamberlain and Sir
Lionel West he had had associated with
him two foremost statesmen from either
side of Canada, the contentious of Canada
could not have been more uniformly sup
ported than they were. He eulogized the
American Commissioners, than whom, he
did not think, that country could have
chosen any more eminently patriotic and
devoted to the interests of their country,
and after three months controversy with
them he had left inspired with the deepest
respect for those gentlemen.
WOULD TALK OF TRADE.
The United States representatives de
clined any consideration Of trade questions,
ard they had, therefore, been forced 70
frame a treaty based on other considera-
tions. Concerning this treaty, he did not
intend to state to tho House all the advant-
ages which might be claimed for it, because
every word he uttered ir the House to-day
might be used against him IN the United
States Senate tomorrow, where, it was
possible there might be more difficulty in
passing the treaty than in tho Canadian
House of Commons. He was glad that
the United States had not asked fishing
rights in waters under the jurisdiction OF
Canada, because he was satisfied that, with
the vicious system of purse seining in use
by United States fishermen, were the Cana
dian in shore waters thrown open TO them,
Canada would soon have no more fisheries
that remain to the United States.
MIGHT HAVE LED TO WAR.
Mr. Tupper recited the consequences OF
making this treaty. 1t averted the com
mercial war which would have ensued had
the President put into force the non-inter-
course bill passed by the United States, and
be considered that the line was very mar.
row which separated commercial
war from actual war A con
dition of things would have
ensued the end of which no man could
foresee BY the action the government had
~
averted: but great as the disaster would
have been the disaster 10 the United States
he thought, would be much greater, though
, companionship in misery would be very
| little consolation. He considered that
Canada had emerged from midnight dark
ness into open daylight by the
coclusion Of this treaty. "But
, suppose" he said, this treaty
is not adopted by the United States
Senate not improbable contingency, in
view of the near approach of the Presiden-
tiaI election and increased bitterness OF par
iy strife" he thought the relations f the
two countries would still be in much bet
Ter position than If this amicable agreement
had not been arrived at between the &C
credited representatives. Of both countries
HOPING AGAINST HOPE.
He hoped there we're statesmen enough in
the great Republican party to overweight
the party advantage which might ensut
from deterring their opponents from max
ing n settlement Of this vexed question. lie
thought that the time and trouble spent in
endeay oring 10 bring about this settlement
had been amply rewarded by the testimony
of Secretary Bayard 10 the fair, honest
and Just interpretationof tho treaty OF
1871. contained In the treaty
now under discussion. II the Senate
rejected the treaty, then the responsibility
, for any further Inconvenience suffered by
ITnited States fishermen would rest with the