The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-05
CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.
THE DoMINIoNS PROPOSALS TO
SECRETARY BLAINE.

A Dispatch from the Governor GEN
eral to the Secretary of State for the
Colonies-Seven Heads to be In
cluded in the Proposed Treaty-Why
the Proposal Was Made.
OTTAWA, Feb. 4.-The following is copy
OF dispatch from the governor general 60
the secretary of state for the colonies,
showing the nature of the Canadian gov
ernment's proposal 10 the United States,
and indicating the desire of the admins
tration for the development of trade be-
tween the United States and Canada.
THE Government HOUSE,,
OTTAWA. Dec. 10, 1890
MY LoRn-I have the honor to send your
lordship to-day telegraphic message in cipher,
OF which the following is the substance; With
reference to my telegram OF Dec. 10, this gov
erament is desrous TO propose joint commits
sion, such as that OF 1871 with authority 10 deal
without limitation, and 60 prepare treaty re-
specting the following subjects:
]. Renewal OF the reciprocity treaty Of 1854
with the notifications required by the altered
circumstances Of both countries, and with ex-
tensions, deemed by the commission TO be TO the
Interests of Canada and the United States.
2 Reconsideration Of the treaty of 1883 with
respect to the Atlantic fisheries with the aim of
securing free admission into the United States
markets of Canadian fishery products, in return
for facilities to be granted TO the United States
fishermen to buy bait and supplies and to tran
ship cargoes in Canada. all such privileges to be
mutual
3. Protection OF mackerel and other fisheries
on the Atlantic ocean aud in inland waters.
d. Relaxation Of the seaboard coastlng laws
of the two countries
g. Relaxation of the coasting laws OF the two
countries on inland waters dividing Canada
from the United States.
G. Mutual salvage and saving of wrecked
vessels.
a. Arrangements for settling the boundary
between Canada and Alaska. The treaty will
be ad referendum.
HOW 1T CAME TO BE MADE.
The manner in which this proposal came
to be made to the United States govern.
ment is briefly as follows: Several weeks
ago, when negotiations were In progress be.
tween Newfoundland and the United States,
looking to a reciprocity treaty. the Cana.
dian government made representations that
Canada should have the option of being In
cluded In any arrangements with that
colony as to fisheries or trade. This
contention was based on the solemn assur-
ance given by the Newfoundland govern
ment TWO or three years ago and repeated
on successive occasions, that il any special
privilege were allowed any country in re.
gard to the purchase of supplies and bait in
Newfoundland, such privileges should also
tary of State for the United States
when he learned of the position OF
affairs, insisted that the negotiations
should be carried on separately. He init.
mated, however, that he would not bt
unwilling to enter into negotiations with
Canada, but preferred that they should bt
private and unofficial The Dominion gov
ernment thereupon asked the imperia
authorities to remind Secretary Blaine tina
do had al h. g.. Ams
ciprocal arrangements and had made re-
peated offers to that effect, which, however
had been ignored or refused by the United
States. 1t was further represented thai
the Dominion government was willing now
that overtures had been made to them tC
again negotiate, and they would prefer that
those negotiations should be official and
under commission from the British gov.
ernment. Secretary Blaine thereupou
asked upon what basis the Dominion gov.
ernmsnt proposed to negotiate.
The dispatch above is the reply which the
administration of Sir John Macdonald sent
to Lord Kutsford for transmission to
Washington.
A LONDON EDITORIAL.
LONDON, Feb. 5, 3A. M.-The Standard
in an editorial this morning argues that
there is political object lurking behind the
new American tariff which seeks to drive
Canada into a corner and infiict the
greatest possible commercial in
jury on her, hoping that the Cana
dians, worn out by the struggle, will
ask admittance TO the United States This,
the paper declares, constitutes the weak
point in Sir John MacDonald's otherwise
statesmanlike policy. Neither Sir John
MacDonald's or the opposltion's proposals
are likely to be iDdorsed by America, but
the formers is dignified and patriotic
scheme Of which no Canadian or
Englishman need be ashamed. An
election will compel Secretary Blaine and
his government to show their cards face
upward, aud will thus serve a useful pur-
pose. One thing is perfectly clear, America
will never help Canada to get rid Of her
commercial embarrassments unless Canada
consents at the same time to surrender her
political independence.