Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-24
The Famous Letter Writer Pulls
the Lions Tail.
A NOTE TO SIR PAUNCEFOTE.
How Sir John Mcdonald and Sir Charles Tup-
per Betrayed an Official Secret
Secretary Blaine Wanted the Proposed
Canadian Reciprocity Convention
to be Strictly a Pri-
vate Affair.

OTTAWA, ONT, June ga bulky bundle
OF documents tied with red tape was laid on
the table of the senate chamber by the pre-
mier Just before the senate rose last night.
1t was message from the governor-gen
transmitting further papers relating to the
extension and development of trade be-
tween the United States and the Dominion
of Canada, including Newfoundland.
On March 10, after the elections were
over and Sir John Mcdonald had been sus-
tanned, the encouragement wrote the
British minister at Washington asking him
to ascertain when it would be convenient
for Secretary Blaine to receive representa-
tives of the Canadian government and dis
cuss the question of reciprocity.
A letter from Secretary Blaine trans
mitted to the encouragement by the
British minister at Washington. in COM
munication dated April =, 1891, is the most
notable of the CORES pondence.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, April I. 1891.
My Dear Sir Julian:
duly received the note which you did
me the honor to address to me on the Goth
inst. / regret that for many reasons have
been unable to make an earlier response.
For convenience sake l here quote the
substantial part of the note: in a note
dated January %, last, had the pleasure to
inform you confidentially that the Canadian
government in Difference to your preference
for an unofficial conference on the question
of reciprocity were disposed TO meet your
wishes in that respect. 1t was understood
that you would be ready after the 4th of
March to discuss this subject officially with
me, and two or three more agents from
Canada. l have now received a dispatch
from the encouragement of Canada in
which he requests me to ascertain whether
the present time is convenient to you for
that purpose, in which case the representa-
tives appointed by the Canadian govern
ment will go to Washington to confer in
the manner proposed on any or all subjects
indicated in the base of negotiations which
had the honor 10 place in your hands
December ~ last
A copy of the dispatch of the negotiations
which you gave me December %. is APP
pended hereto.
You told me, if my memory is not in
error, that you were instructed by Lord
Salisbury to propose topics to the United
States for discussion, and if possible for
agreement. | answered that | felt sure
that the president would be willing to ap-
point commission to consider the PROPOSE
lions as they were stated, and, further
more, that would willingly submit them
to the president. After some further con-
versation, in which you repeated these
propositions We're merely the basis upon
piled that in any event had not a moment
to give to the subject until after the ad-
journment of congress in March. but after
that date | would be willing to respond to
your request and to give full private con-
ference to the British minister and one or
more agents and go over every point of diff
ference. If an official agreement is reached.
all well; if not, no official mention is to be
made of the effort. Above all things it is
important to avoid public reference to this
matter. This the president will insist on.
While no notes We're exchanged between
US, carefully minuted my modification of
the paper you left with me containing Lord
Salisbury's proposition, and did so imme-
diately after you left the department. You
will observe that the private character 1
wished to impart to the conference is recog-
nized by you months later in your note of
January %, when you cabled correspond
ence confidential
In view of the fact that you had come to
the state department with the proposals,
and that the subject was then for the first
time mentioned, and in view of the fact
that l agreed to private conference as ex-
planned in my minutes, l confess it was a
surprise when several weeks later, during
the Canadian canvass, Sir John MacDon-
aid and Sir Charles Upper both stated be-
fore public assemblages that the formal
discussion of reciprocity treaty would
take place at Washington after the 4th of
March by invitation of the secretary of
state.
With this explanation it only remains for
me to say that the representatives of the
Dominion of Canada may be assured of a
courteous and cordial reception in Wash
ington by the government of the United
States. ]. G. BLAINE.