Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-12-23
OVER THE HUDSON.
-3-
Canada Scheming For Free
Navigation of that
River.
Our Neighbours Finance Minister
Criticizes the Presidents
Message.
Facts About the Reciprocity and
Bering Sea Confer
enceS.
ellceS.

Washington, Dee. 13.-The attention
OF Secretary Foster has been called to
Il lengthy interview with the Canadian
finance minister tclcgraphcd from OF
taWa, i'll which the Canadian severely
criucizes President HarrisonS annual
message with reference to Canada.
Speaking of the reciprocity matter Sec
rotary Foster said that during the con-
ference last winter Mr. Blaine did not
insist on ! uniform tariff for both coun-
tries but did ask that the schedule
should not be confined to natural pro-
ducts, but to include an agreed list Of
manufactured goods.
The fishery question covers more than
4 century of voluminous discussion and
prolonged controversy. but most limit
Ell examination of it shows that ut every
step In its history the exacting and I'M
reasonable demands of Canadn have
frustrated the otherwise harmonious
adjustments between Great Britain and
the United States. This is especially
noticeable in the Berins sea controversy.
1t Is Il well-known fact that In 1883
the subject had reached Il complete
basis of settlement In London between
Lord Salisbury and Minister Phelps,
when Canada's remonstrances defeated
the arrangement and precipitated the
two governments into bitter discus
sion, out of which has grown the Ber-
ing arbitration
The Canadian statement of the Issue
involved in the controversy is also mis-
leading, said Secretary Foster. 1t is
not question of free fishing on the
high sea. The government of the Unit
ed States does not claim the BcrIng
sea Is mare clausum, and does not
seek to restrict the legitimate freedom
OF oceans, but In the language of Mr..
Blaine, it does claim that the law of
the Sea is not lawlessneSS 1t holds that
fur seals are born and reared on tho
1'ribyloff islands, ON which they spend
large part of their existence, and to
which they return with unvalyinS in
Stinct. They represent large and val
liable interest and industry, which
should not be permitted to be cXtermi-
mated by the inhuman methods of Cana
dian pOachcrS.
The Canadian minister clouds the Gu
nal controversy by shifting the real
ground to an alleged comparison of tho
relative advantages Of the two coull-
tries to derive from each other con-
cessions under the treaty of Washing
ton i'll the matter of navigation.
The whole movement is evidently dc
signed to force the United States TO
yield to Canada the free navigation of
the Hudson river, Il concession which
WAS left uncOnSilcrcd.
Every attempt TO bring about IL better
understanding of the canal tolls haa
been met by Il demand from Canada
that the free navigation of the Hudson
river be thrown in by the United States
us the price of Canada'S fuliillmcnt OF
the simple terms of the treaty of Wash
ington. All nations have carefully
guarded the internal avenues Of com
mlInication and coaStwiSe commerce
from foreign intrusion and the president
has neither inclination nor power to pay
the price of its surrender in this i'm
stance to secure the observance by
Canada of what he regards rs plain
treaty obligations.
| Secretary Foster also devoted some
space to Canadas attitude toward our
railway traffic and says our liberation
of Canada hallway systems thus far
/ has been one Of the many instances Of
the forbearance Of the executive and
distinguished mark Of the desire to cul-
tivate friendly relations with Canada.