Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-11-13
LA[RIER'S MISSION.
Oanada's Premier Comes With a
Message Of Peace.
TO SETTLE ALL CONTROVERSIES
The Canadians Attach Little Import
ance to the Boring Sea Dispute, and
VIII Endeavor to Settle More Es-

The Canadians Attach Little Import
ance to the Boring Sea Dispute, and
VIII Endeavor to Settle More Es-
pecIaliy the Alien Labor DifIiculty.
Washington. Nov. 9.-The authors
ties here have been advised that the
arrival today of Sir Wilfred Laurier.
premier of Canada; Sir Louis Davies.
minister of marine in the Laurier cab
met and other officials Of the Domin-
ion is to have an important bearing not
only on the Boring sea settlement but
on all the pending questions which
have been sources of International COM
plication between the United States and
Canada, namely, the passage of alien
laborers to and from Canada, the North
Atlantic fisheries question, the presence
of many Americans in the Klondike
territory belonging to Canada and in
the mining regions of British Columbia,
the fisheries trouble along the great
lakes, the bonding privilege granted
Canadian railroads, the controversy
over rights in the Frazer river. British
Columbia, and in the Puget sound, and
also the question of a reciprocity ar
rangement between the United States
and Canada.
There is direct and definite informa-
ton that Sir Wilfred comes prepared
to take up all the questions, and If pos
sible include them in one general set
tlement whereby the constant friction
they have engendered may be over
come. On some of these subjects he
will confer with President Mckinley,
and on at least one of them, that re-
~
border, he will suggest such mutual
notifications of present restrictions as
in his opinion will be of material adj
vantage to the thousands of Americans
now in the Klondike and British Co
lumbar mining country, and at the
same time will be of advantage to Can
ada along the eastern border.
The essential features of Sir Wilfred's
mission were communicated to the of
hcials here by a person fully advised
of the premiers plans, and it can be
said that the suggestion that the decks
be cleared of existing disputes between
Canada and the United States met with
the favor of the administration While
the Boring sea settlement occasioned
the visit, the Canadian authorities at
tach much less Importance to it than
they do to the other questions men
toned. Little doubt, it is said, Is felt
by the Canadians that an amicable
adjustment of the sealing question can
be made. Among the plans suggested
is that of an indemnity large enough
to permit Canada to buy out the seal
ers and retire them from business.
With this done, the United States,
Japan, Great Britain and Canada
would be together in a suppression of
pelagic sealing.
Under the Canadian premier's direc-
ton the Canadian parliament passed an
alien immigration law last spring, by
which American contractors and Amer
lean laborers were barred from compet-
ing in the work on the Crows Nest
Pass railway, a government undertake
ing in western Canada. On the other
hand, it is claimed by the Canadians
that about 5000 Americans are in the
Klondil1e territory belonging to Canada,
and that fully 10000 American contract
laborers are working in the mines of
British Columbia. The United States
immigration laws, it is asserted, are
administered with harshness along the
Canadian border, and are daily source
of irritation Sir Wilfred is prepared
TO oIer d fepeai Oh CdilduldH IeStrlc-
lions in the Klondike and other re-
gions if the administration of the
American law is made more lenient.
On the matter of reciprocity, the gen.
eral purpose of the negotiations will
be to give the United States the ben
eft of the minimum clause of the
present Canadian law in exchange for
the 20 per cent reduction allowed under
the Dingley law. The desire of Sir
Wilfred and his associates will be to
confine the arrangement to a few i'm
portant articles. allowing time to de-
velop its usefulness and extend its
scope.