The record-union., 1897-11-09
CANADIAN HIGH OFFICIALS
WILL ARRIVE AT WASHINGTON
CITY TODAY.
Presence at the Capital Expected
to Have an Important Bearing
Upon Pending Questions.

WASHINGTON, Nov. S.-The author
tiles here have been advised that the
arrival tomorrow of SN Wilfred Lau-
rier, Premier of Canada; Sir Louis Da-
vies, Minister of Marine in the LaurIer
Cabinet, and other officials of the Do
minion is to have an important bearing
not only on the Behring Sea settlement,
but on all the pending questions which
have been sources of international COM
plications between the United States
and Canada, namely, the passage OF
alien labor laws to and from Canada,
the North Atlantic fisheries question,
the presence of many Americans in the
Klondike territory belonging to Can
ada and in the mining regions of Brit
ish Columbia, the fisheries troubles
along the great lakes, the bonding
privilege granted Canadian railroads,
the controversy over the rights in the
Fraser River, British Columbia and in
Puget Sound, and also the question Of
a reciprocity arrangement between the
United States and Canada.
There is direct and definite informa-
ton that Sir Wilfred comes prepared TO
take up all these questions, and if pos
Sfble include them in one general set
tlement, whereby the constant friction
they have engendered may be over
come.
In the matter Of reciprocity, the gen.
eral purpose of the negotiations will be
to give the United States the benefit of
the minimum clause of the present
Canadian law in exchange for the 20
per cent. reduction allowed under the
1c1a "a "a Of l.
fred and his associates will be to con-
fine the arrangement to a few import
ant articles, allowing time to develop
it's usefulness and extend its scope. On
the part of Canada, the articles likely
to be proposed for reciprocity are fish,
coal, lumber and barley. On the part
Of the United States, the articles likely
to figure are coal, oil, corn, railway
and electrical supplies, machinery OF
all kinds, agricultural implements, ma
tive woods, watches, clocks, cotton and
certain forms of iron and steel
The Canadian law permits an one
eighth reduction of duties this year and
one fourth reduction next year to such
countries as give advantages to Can
ada At present British goods get this
reduction, while American goods do not.
The North American fisheries con-
troversies is Of long duration. 1t took a
menacing aspect some years ago, and
at that time a fisheries commission
convened at Washington and made a
modus vivendi, serving as a temporary
settlement The modus is still in op-
Grafton, and under it American vessels
must pay a license to the Canadians
for the privilege of transhipping at
Canadian ports, taking bait, etc. The
license system has proved to be a hard
ship, and efforts will be made to reach
more satisfactory system.
1t has been made known to the Off
cials here that the Canadian Premier
comes to Washington desirous of adopt
ing plan proposed by Mr. Blaine, that
of Jumping the controversies into one
general settlement, the details to be
settled by a commission representing
both countries. Sir Wilfred Laurier
has long been the advocate of the most
conciliatory and friendly relations with
the United States
He and his party are expected to ar
rive in New York tonight, and come
on mere tomorrow. Some of the Pre-
miers closest friends were at the State
Department to-day arranging for his
visit. and indicating the foregoing
broad scope of the questions desired to
be brought forward.