Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-12-14
WARNING TO CANADA.
Must Not Come Between
Us and Great Britain.
STATEMENT BY FOSTER
Shows Instances Where the Dominion
Is Greatly In Error.

WASHINGTON, Dec 1.-THE attention Of
the secretary of state. John w. Foster.
was called to the lengthy Interview which
was telegraphed from Ottawa by the Ca
madam minister Of finance, Hon. George
T. Foster, containing u detailed review
Of President Hsrrison's annual message.
Secretary Foster stated that the Canadian
finance ministers arraignment OF the
president was neither Justified by the
message nor sustained by his lengthy
criticism.
The minister's srraignment is OF four
topics Of great interest Co both countries,
viz: Reciprocity OF trade, fishery rights, the
canal determinations and the railroad
traffic. On the first point little fault is
to be found with the Can adian stat ment.
for the reason that In every particular
does 1t qualify the presidents declara-
tions.
But In this particular the minister In
seriously In error. During the reciprocity
conference or last winter Mr.. Blaine did
not insist that in reciprocity arrange
ment uniform tariff would be necessary
for both Canada and the United States.
nor, much less, that IL would be on the lin q
OF the present United States tariff. He
did ask that the schedule should not be
confined TO natural products, but should
include an agreed list of manufactured
goods, and that the reciprocity should be
confined to Canaia aud the Unit"d
States; and because Of these two co;.di-
tions negotiations were fruitless.
The Fishery Question
covers more than "A century Of voluminous
discussion and prolonged controversy, but
q most limited examination of IL wOul d
show that In every step in its history the
exacting and unreasonable demands OF
Canada have frustrated otherwise har-
monious adjustments between Great
Britain and the United States. This is
especially noticeable Ia the fur seal con-
troversy. II IL a well known fact that in
1885 the subject had reached a complete
basis In London between Lord Salisbury
and Minister Phelps, when the remon-
STRANGE of Canada defeated the arrange
ment and precipitated the two govern
ments into the bitter discussion, out Of
which has grown the pending arbitration.
Secretary Foster said that the Canadian
minister's statement of the issue involved
In this arbitration was most imperfect
and misleading IL WAS not question Of
free fishing on the high sea The govern-
ment of the United States does not seek
to restrict the legitimate freedom Of the
ocean; but, In the language OF Mr.. Blaine.
IL does claim that the law OF the sea is
not law essness II holds that the fur
seals born and reared on the Pribilof ISL
ands, on which they spend = large part Of
their existence, and to which they return
with unvarying instinct, represent large
and valuable interest and industry, which
should not be permitted TO be extermi-
mated by the barbarous aud inhuman
methods OF the Canadian poachers, aud 1t
has every confidence the tribunal Of arbi-
trstion will 80 decide
The vital Question st Issue.
The minister clouds the canal contro-
versy by shifting the real ground to an
alleged comparison Of the relative advan-
tages the United States and Canada derive
from each .other's concessions, under the
treaty Of Washington, in the matter OF
navigation. The whole movement Is evi.
IDENTIFY designed to force the United
States to yield TO Canada the free naviga-
tion Of the Hudson river. q concession
which was left unconsidered I'm the con-
ference which led up to the treaty OF
Washington. The navigation Of Lake
Michigan by the Canadians was then
made the express and ample equivalent
OF the navigation Of the st. Lawrence. and
n II was fair compensation In 1871, what
is II now. when the commercial field OF
operations in Lake Michigan is many fold
increasedf
Every attempt to bring about q better
understanding OF the question Of the
canal tolls has been been met by the de-
mand Of Canada that the free navigation
Of the Hudson river shall be thrown in by
us at the price Of Canaia's fulfilment Of
the simple terms OF the treaty Of Wash
ington. All nations have carefully
guarded their internal avenues and CON-
muncation and coastwise commerce from
foreign intrusion, and the president has
neither the inclination nor the power un
der the existing laws to pay the price Oft
surrender I'm this instance TO secure the OBJ
aerv nee by Canada OF what he regards AZ
its plain treaty obligations.
The attitude OF Canada to our railway
traffic the secretary regards a. the least
defensible OF all It's relations with the
United States. Briefly stated
It 10 . Defiance
by its great and overshsdowing corpora
ton Of our national policy Of railway con-
troll IN the intere-r and for the protection
Of the public. While our American rail-
roads are under the restrictions Of the in
terstats commerce law the Canadian
Pacific 10 reaping the benefits OF Its ex-
emption therefrom, at great inconven-
isnce. II not seriou loss, TO the treasury
department and to the injury OF Ameh-
can interests. Our federation Of the sys-
tstn thus far has been one OF the many In.
stances OF the forbearance OF the execu-
tive, and distinguished mark OF desire
10 cultivate friendly relations with Cam
ada Certainly IL Is The last matter about
which the finance munster should fnd
fault with President Harrison's utter
snces In his IN ssAge.
II would be easy to multiply the In
stances cited by the president wherein our
negotiations with Great Britain have been