The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-14
Secretary of State Foster on
Canadian Discourtesy.
ALWAYS GREEDY AND UNFAIR.
House Committee on Ways and Means
to Investigate the Treasury.
Senator George, ON Behalf OF the Cot
ton Growers. Supports tho Anti
Option BiiI-Senator Allen Trying to

WASHINGTON CITY. Dec. 13.-The atten-
tion OF Secretary of State Foster was today
called to . lengthy interview with Can
adlan Finance Commissioner Foster,
telegraphed from Ottawa. in which the
Canadian severely criticised President
Harrison's annual message with reference
to Canada. Speaking of the recipr ocity
matter, Secretary Foster said:
During the conference last winter Mr. Blaine
did not insist on q uniform tariff for both couu-
tries, but did ask that the schedules should not
be confined to natural products, but include On
agreed list of manufactured goods.
The fishery question covers more than a ceE-
tury of volumiucus discussion end prolonged
controversy. A careful examination of It shows
that at every step in its history the sxacting and
unreasonable demands OF Canada have frus-
trated otherwise harmonious adjustment be-
tween Great Britain and the United a.a,ea This
was especially noticeable in the fur
seal controversy Itisa well-known fact that
In 1883 the subject had reached q com plete basis
OF settlement in LoIdoA between Lord Sails
bury and Minister Phelps, when Cansdas re-
monstrances defeated the arrangement and
pFecipitated the two governments into 4 bfter
discussion, out OF which has grown the Bering
sea arbitration. The Canadian statement OF the
issue involved in the controversy is also mis-
leading. 1t is not a question OF free fishing on
the high seas The government Of the United
States does not claim that Bering sea is a mare
ciausum. and does not seek to restrict the
legitimate freedom of the ocean, but. in
the language of Mr.. Blaine, it does claim
that the law of the sea is not law
iessness. 1t holds that the fur seals
born and reared On the Pribilof islands, on
which they spend a large part of their existence
and to which they return with unvaryjng in
stinct, represent large and valuable interests
Uh eh
mitted to be exterminated by tho inhuman
methods OF Canadian poachers
The Canadian minister closes the canal contro-
versy by shifting the real ground to an alleged
comparison OF the relative advantages ths two
countries derive from each others concession
under the treaty OF Washington City in the mat
ter OF navigation. The whole movement is eyi-
IDENTIFY designed to force the United States to
yield to Cano9A free navigation of the Hudson
river, concession which was left unconsidered
in the conference which led up to the treaty of
Washington City. The navigation of Lake
Michigan by the Canadians was made
then to express the equivalent of navi-
cation of the St. Lawrence river. Every
attempt to bring about 4 better understanding
in canal tolls has been met by the demand OF
Canada that free navigation OF the Hudson river
be thrown in by the United States as the price
of Canada's fulfllment of the terms of the
treaty of Washington City. All nations have
carefully guarded the internal avenues Of COM
muuicstion and coastwise cammerce from for
egn intrusion, ana the president has neither in
ciination nor the power to pay the price of its
surrender in this instance to secure the OBJ
serUance by Canada Of what he regards as a
plain treaty obligation.
Secretary Foster also devotes some space
to Canada's attitude on railway traffic,
and says our liberation of the Canadian
Pacific railway systems operations thus
far has been one of the many instances Of
the forbearance of the executive and as
the distinguished mark of desire to cul-
tivate friendly relations with Canada.