The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-06-05
SIR CHARLES CORDIALLY RECEIVED.
Tupper's Account OF His Talk with
Blaine In Washington.
Tho American Secretary'sl Position
Not Yet Made Public,
His Visitors Explanation of the
Treatment of Yankee Fishermen.

OTTAWAs June 4,-lne nrSL lnStaIlment OF
paper dealing with the Washington reci
procity negotiations was laid before the Do
minion Parliament today. The documents
presented include the protest Of the Cana
dian Government against the projected Unit
cd States treaty with Newfoundland. The
result of the protest was the postponement
of the Newfoundland treaty and the endeav-
or to make bargain for Canada. The let
ters which indicate the attitude of Mr..
Blaine towards Canada's proposal are not
made public yet.
Sir Charles Tupper, in his report to Sir
John Macdonald of the first interview with
Mr.. Blaine last April, in company with Sir
Julian Pauncefote, says: "Mr Blaine re-
ceiyed me very cordially. 1 told Mr.. Blaine
that wished to recognize the accuracy of
the statement contained in his letter to Sir
Julian Pauncefote, in reference to the invi-
tation to open negotiations regarding recip-
rocal trade arrangements between the two
countries. believed it arose from the me-
gotiations which had recently taken place
between the United States and Newfound-
land, and the desire expressed by Canada to
be included in any arrangements such as
had been understood to be contemplated by
the United States and Newfoundland, and
that, upon that being communicated to him
by Sir Julian Pauncef0te, he expressed his
willingness to open negotiations for reciprO-
cal trade arrangements between Canada and
the United States, assisted by delegates from
the Dominion government, the negotiations
to be informal and, to certain extent, conf
Dental until they could assume more for
NAL character, If any result was arrived at.
Mr. Blaine tsaid he understood that Canada
had taken some exception to the proposed
arrangement with the United States by New
foundland. l admitted that such was the case,
and that l had explained to Her Majesty'S
government that, in connection with the
question of the Atlantic fishery, the interest
of Canada and Newfoundland had always
been regarded as inseparable; that the trea-
ties of 1854 and 1871 provided for the partic-
ipation of Newfoundland by the action of
its legislature; that the ratification of the
treaty of 1888 depended upon the approval
of Newfoundland. and that there appeared
TO be great objections, on many accounts, to
the interests involved being dealt with Sepa-
rately.
'Mr. Blaine asked me the reason why
Newfoundland had not become part of the
Canadian confederation. | replied that, In
addition TO its being somewhat more remote,
the difficulty was that experienced. notably
in the United States and the British North
American provinces. Of the reluctance of
small autonomous government to giving up
its affairs to larger body when it might pos
slbly be overruled. l told Mr.. Blaine l
wished to remove the idea, If he entertained
1t. which had been promulgated in Canada
and the United States that the present gov
ernment of the Dominion was not warmly
in favor of the most friendly relations with
the United States. referred him to the
fact that when Sir John Mcdonald, who was
one Of Her Majesty's high commissioners,
submitted to Parliament for approval
the Alabama treaty which settled all the
the United States, he was fercely de-
nounced by the leaders and the press of
the Liberal party for having basely sacri-
feed the interests of Canada in his endeav-
ors to promote friendly relations betw cen
Canada and the United States. / added that
same party when | submitted for the appro-
val of Parliament the treaty of Washington
in 1888. was then charged by the leaders
everything to the United States and obtained
nothing In return. l said, of course, in 1866
and subsequently In 1885. when the treaties
which gave to United States fishermen the
common right with our own fishermen were
aSrogated in consequence of the action of the
United States, we were thrown back upon
the treaty of 1878, but ! said that statements
that Canada then resorted to harsh construc-
tion of the treaty of 1918, with the object of
promoting freer trade relations with the
United States were erroneous. We were com.
PEELED in justice to the rights OF our own fish
ermen, who were met with duties In the
United States to protect them. We were at
tackled by the press of the opposition for not
maintaining our rights more thoroughly.
'Mr. Blaine desire to assure me that out
side Of individual difference of opinion, there
was no interest taken by members Of the
Congress of the United States in the recent
Canadian election and they had taken no ac-
tive part to influence the result of the cleo
tion. l said Canada was most anxious to
have the freest and most friendly relation
with the United States consistent with the
interest Of both countries"
In conclusion, Sir Charles says:
81 told Mr.. Blaine, Sir John Macdonald
had understood Mr.. Blaine had not been
well. Sir John suggested that 1t might be
more convenient to Mr.. Blaine to take up
the consideration of these questions at
later period, pending which, the Dominion
Parliament would be asked to continue the
modus vivendi to avoid friction in the mean
while. Mr.. Blaine replied that as he was
better he was quite prepared to take up the
subject. then said / would ask the minis
ter of justice and minister of finance, who
were deputed by Sir John to join me as soon
as Mr.. Blaine could receive u.s."
The report says Mr.. Blaine named April
8, but this date was afterward changed to
October II, as President Harrison desired to
be present,