The record-union., 1897-12-30
Canada Wants TO be Included In Colonies
Receiving Its Advantages.
Lumber Interests, However, Are
Opposed to Such Treaty With
Our Northern Neighbor1 -
Chairman Tunis of the Execu-
Lu1nbermen's Association Ex-
ject.

ject.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29-Sir Julian
Paunceforte, British ambassador. has
about recovered from a long and painful
attack of rheumatism. which kept him
in bed for a part of the last three
months. The fact that he was able to
call at the State Department yesterday
led to reports that coincident with
Lord Saisbury's declination of the
proposition to stop pelagic sealing, Sir
Julian had renewed reciprocity negotia-
tions. His call, however has no signiti-
canoe, as Sir Julian did not know of
Lord Salisbury's answer at the time
he visited the State Department.
AS to the reciprocity negotiations.
they have progressed steadily through
MIR. Adam, First Secretary of the EN-
bassy, and Sir Julian Will now be able
to give the matter personal attention.
The main desire of the British West
Indian colonies is to secure the ~ per
cent reciprocity reduction on sugar.
What will be offered in exchange has not
yet been determined.
AT the outset the purpose of the ne
gotiations was confined to the British
West Indies, but the present indications
are that efforts will be made to include
Canada among the colonies receiving the
advantages of reciprocity. How far
this can be done, in view of the failure
of the Behring Sea negotiations. is not
clear, but it is probable that the Brit
ish Government will prefer to have the
negotiations embrace all the colonies,
e +;,acr
the action, when the last reciprocity
treaties We're framed, of confining them
to the West Indian possessions.
In this connection it may be stated
that Mr. Kasson, the special Plenipo-
tentiary Commissioner of the United
States charged with the conduct of the
negotiations of reciprocity arrangements
and treaties under the Tariff Act, has not
undertaken to consider the; subject of
reciprocity with Canada. This absten-
tion on the part of Mr.. Kasson is attrib-
utabe to the fact that the subject of
reciprocity, pure and simple, as de-
scribed in the Tariff Act, has become so
involved with the seal question and 9TH
er issues as to become practically in
separable from them, and SO the entire
subject of Canadian relation appears to
remain in the control of ex-Secretary
Foster.
1t had been expected that the recov-
cry of Sir Julian would permit active
steps on the British-American treaty of
arbitration. There is no present pros
pect, however, that anything will be
done on that subject, and up to this time
no negotiations have ben opened be-
tween the ambassador and the State
Department. Both Governments have
a favorable attitude toward re-
opening negotiations, but the British
Government will take no step whatever
until a definite assurance is at hand that
such treaty as may be proposed will be-
come operative by the ratification of the
Senate.
II is said that the answer of Lord Sal
isbury on the Behring Sea question
which has been briefly reported by cable
adds no new phase to the case, as this
declination was foreshadowed with GER
tainty by the answer of Sir Wilfred Lau-
rier, the Canadian Premier, declining to
stop pelagic sealing. The action of Lord
Salisbury merely adds the Imperial and
official sanction to this declination of the
Canadian authorities AS the Russo
apanese-American treaty. made several
weeks ago, for the stoppage of pelagic
sealing was conditioned on the concur
renee of Great Britain in a similar meas
ure to stop pelagic sealing, it is presum-
ed that the effect of Great Britain's ac-
ton will be to nullify this treaty.
The lumber and other interests which
might be affected by reciprocity treat
les are watching closely. through their
representatives, all that concerns their
special interests. The principal repre-
sentative of the lumber interests is
Tunis, Chairman of the E,x-
ecutive Committee of the National Lum-
befmen's Association. He has had sew
eral interviews with Mr.. Kasson, who is
in charge of reciprocity negotiations for
the State Department, and has received
a letter from him announcing the sue
cess of efforts to prevent Argentine
striking a blow at pine.
NJ. Tlnis has also been informed that
a cable from our Minister in Rio De ia
neiro announces that the Brazilian Gov
will remove the discriminating
exactness against our ship owners.
which should result in the resumption of
our flour trade with that port He is of
the opinion that lHS UlScrlDln1tlDSI
clauses of the Dingley bill caused these
decisions of Brazil and Argentine.
The lumbermen are now chiefly appre-
hensive that the product may have to
bear the brunt of Canadian reciprocity
and Mr.. Tunis to-day au-
the following interview on this
phase of the reciprocity problem:
1T is evident the Administration is
bent on a commercial treaty with Can
ada, under Section Of the Dingley bill
The lumbermen are now unwilling to be
as opposing any policy of
the Government looking to the extension
of our export trade, and will cheerfuly
so as far in the contamination of that
policy as will any other interest, but are
unalterably opposed to sharing with coal
and fish the burden Of policy which the
great masses of our peo9le are utterly
Indifferent to- but which is urged on
the Administration by few Americans
IN the seal fisheries and q few
who are owners of Canadian
forests.
''As matter of principle, policy and
business. the average American student
of every day affairs can see no more