Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-21
RETALIATION URGED.
The President Sounds the Death Knell
of Canadian Reciprocity.
RIGHTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
Guaranteed by the Washington Treaty De-
MED by the Dominion.
A STRONG MESSAGE SENT TO CONGRESS

paper sent TO the Senate to-day IN answer
to resolution of February "a, last, calling
for information relative to reciprocity
negotiations with Canada the President
sounds the death knell of that project and
plants a mile post in American history by
deliberately, in effect recommending that
Congress proceed to retaliate upon the
Dominion for its persistent denial of the
rights of American citizens guaranteed by
the treaty of Washington in connection
with the navigation of Canadian canals.
The text of his communication saws that
his answer TO the resolution was delayed at
the suggestion of the Secretary of State
until the conference of the Sd instant took
place between the Secretary and the British
Minister aud Hon. Mackenzie Powell and
Hon. George E. Foster. Hon. John W.
Foster also appeared on behalf of the Gov
ernment of the United States, at the re-
quest of the Secretary of State.
The President SAYS: ''The result of the
conference, as TO the practicability of
arranging a reciprocity treaty with the
Dominion of Canada, is clearly stated in the
letter of Mr.. Blaine, and was anticipated,
think. by him and every other thoughtful
American who had considered the subject.
\ reciprocity treaty limited to the exchange
of natural products would have been such
only in form. The benefits of such treaty
would have Injured almost wholly TO Canada
Previous Experiments Unsatisfactory.
"Prev;ous experiments on this line had
been unsatisfactory to this government.
treaty that should be reciprocal in fact and
OF mutual advantage must necessarily bave
embraced the list Of important manufac-
tured articles and have secured to the
United States a favored introduction of
these articles into Canada as against the
world: but it was not believed that the Ca
madam Ministry was ready to propose or as
sent to such an arrangement The conclu--
sion Of the Canadian commissioners as
stated in the report of Mr.. Blaine is as fol-
lows:
In the second place it seemed to be i'm
possible for the Canadian Government, in
view of its present political relations and
Obligations. to extend to American goods a
preferential treatment over those of other
countries. As Canada WIS q part of the
British Empire, they did not consider it
competent for the Dominion Government to
enter into any commercial arrangement
with the United states from the benefits of
which Great Britain and its colonies should
be excluded.
"It is not for this Government to argue
against this announcement of Canadian
officials opinion. 1t must be accepted,
however L Iullh, as Tue SldlSL1tiI Vi u COLL
dition which places an insuperable barrier
in the way of the attainment of that large
and beneficial intercourse and reciprocal
trade Nhich might otherwise be developed
between the United States and the Domin-
ion.
at will be noticed that Mr.. Blaine's re-
ports as one of the results of the conference
IAN informal engagement to repeal and
abandon the drawback of 1S cents ton
o,.-ha ipA Yhaf ial
through to Montreal and shipped therefrom
TO Europe. BY the American railways run
ming from Ogdensburg and Oswego and
other American ports, the shippers paid the
full 20 cents Il ton, while in effect those bv
the way of Montreal pay only 2 cents. 1t
was understood that the Canadian Com
missioDers who were all three members of
the Cabinet would see to the withdrawal of
this discrimination
Hasty Canadian Members.
From the report ot the recent conference
by Mr.. Foster, it will Lc seen that the
Canadian commissioners declare that this
statement does not conform to their under
standing, and that the only assurance that
they had intended to give, was that the
complaint of the Government of the United
States should be taken into consideration by
the Canadian Ministry on their return to
Ottawa Mr.. Foster, who was present at
the first conference, confirms the statement
of Mr.. Blaine. While this misunderstood
ing is unfortunate, the mole serious phase
ot the situation is that instead of resembling
the discriminating canal tolls of which this
government complains, the Canadian Min
lStrv, alter the return of the commission
from their visit to Washington, on April 4,
reissued, without any communication with
this government, the order continuing the
discrimination by which rebate OF Is cents
ton is allowed upon grain going to Mon
treal, but not TO American ports, and re-
iusing this rebate even to grain going to
Montreal, ii trans-shipped at an American
port" l
The report of Mr.. Partridge, the Solici-
tor of the Department of State, which ac-
companies the letter of tine Secretary of
State, states these determinations yerv
clearly. That these orders as to canal tolls |
and rebates are in direct violation of article |
q, OF the treaty of 1891, seems to be clear.
1t Is wholly evasive to say that there is no |
discrimination between Canadian and
American vessels; that the rebate is allowed
TO both without favor upon grain carried
through 20 Montreal, or transhipped at q |
Canadian port to Montreal"
''The treaty runs:
To secure to the citizens of the United
States the use OF the Weland. st. Lawrence
and other canals in the dominion on terms of
equality with the inhabitants of the Do
lnlnlOn.
IquaIi;y of Treatment Demanded.
'It was intended to give consumers in the
United States, our people engaged in rail- |
road transportation, and to those exporting
from our ports equal terms in passing their |
merchandise through these canals. This |
absolute equality of treatment was the con-
sideratiOn Tor concessions on the part of |
this government made in the same article of |
the treaty and which have been faithfully |
kept. 1t is a matter of regret that the |
Canadian government has not responded |
promptly to our request for the removal of |
these discriminate tolls The papers SUBJ |
mitted show how serious the loss inflicted is |
upon our lake vessels and upon some of our |
lake ports"
'ln view of the fact that the Canadian |
Commissioners still contest with US the |
claim that these tolls are discriminating and |
insist that they constitute no violation of |
the letter or spirit of article 27 of the 4
treaty, 1t would seem appropriate that Con- |
gress, if the view held bv the Executive is |
approved, should with deliberation and vet |
with promptness take such steps as may be |
necessary to secure the ust rights of our |
citizens. In view OF the delays which have
already taken place in transmitting this /
correspondence to Congress, l have not felt |
justified in awaiting the further communi- |
cation from the Government of Canada |
which was suggested in the recent confer |
ence. Should any proposition relating to |
this matter be received, it will be immedi- |
atelY submitted for the consideration of the |
Senate, and forwarded within the time sug-