New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-19
PRICE THREE CENTS.
CANADA FOR FREER TRADE.
A PROMINENT FEATURE IN
THE LIBERAL PARTY'S PROGRAMME.
AN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A TREATY WITH THIS
COUNTRY TO BE MADE IN THE NEAR FUTURE
IMPORTANT CONCESSIONS WHICH PRE-
MIER LAURIER IS PREPARED
TO OFFER-AN INTEREST
ING TALK WITH
MIR. CHARLTON.

~ OfFER-AN INTEREST
ING TALK WITH
MR.. CHARLTON
Washington Jan. 1S-John Charlton. for
twenty-five years a Liberal member Of the
Canadian House OF Commons. who is now in
Washington. In discussing the question Of the
desirabillty Of more liberal trade relations be-
tween the United States and Canada. to-day
said that the recent change Of Government In
Canada had brought the question OF reciprocity
t. the front. The Liberal party had always IA
vored more intimate trade relations with the
United States. The Conservative party. on the
contrary. had uniformly been adverse 10 reel
procity except on unattanable conditions. Now
Canada governed by broader minded and
more liberal men, Wilfred Laurier. the present
Premier. is man OF advanced views. He Is a
Liberal OF the Liberals His knowledge OF
American affairs is accurate and extended. and
he ardently hopes For more intimate and friendly
business and social relations between the two
countries
Canada, Mr.. Charlton said. will unquestiona-
bly, attempt In the near future TO obtain
treaty OF reciprocity in trade with the United
States; a treaty which will admit all natural
products to freedom OF mutual interchange. and
will cover. In addition. as wide list OF manu-
equilibrium OF mutual interests shall require.
THE ADVANTAGES SAID TO BE MUTUAL
When the conditions OF trade between the two
countries are carefully analyzed said Mr..
Charlton. It will be found that the advantages
to be derived from free interchange OF natu-
raj products not entirely the side ~
Canada. The removal OF the Canadian duty on
Indian would lead to enormous con-
sumption OF that grain in Canada for stock
feeding and other purposes American pork
would he largely used by Canadian umbermen
II admitted free and the repeal Of the Canadian
duty on -four and meal would enable the United
States TO supply Nova Scotia. New Brunswick
and Prince Edwards Island with breadstuffs. n
the exclusion of Ontario and Manitoba. Fresh
beef from Chicago packing-houses would find
extensive sale in Canadian cities and towns. and
the repeal of the duty Of 80 cents on btuminous
coal would crowd out the Of Nova Scotia
coal in Canada west Of and including Montreal.
The latest complete Canadian trade returns aic
for the fiscal year snded June 80 1S.,J The to-
tai export o! agricultural products To the United
States for that year was %j.ilo'D~. tn" total en-
port Of animals and their produce. the pr onuct Of
Canada to the United States COR the same period
was $3.113.OM. The same year Canada import
cd from the United States large quantity of
animal products. and Si.s@.rV' OF grain. -four.
meal, garden seeds and broom corn. Or which
there was entered for home consumption 81
10000
This statement Of agricultural imports does
not include raw cotton. vegetable fibres or to-
bacco. The Canadian exports Of forest products
TO the United States for 1890 amounted to sl2.-
49, 900 and Of this amount over S'.2'OWO con.
sisted Of sawoes. shingles. bolts. stave bolts and
pulp wood for American mills. aud OF tan BARK
and firewood. The entire importation Of Canadi-
sawn lumber. shingles. la'h. pckets and pal.
ngs amounted about IOpNo.nun feet, board
measure or less than one-twentleth ~ the an
nual lumber product Of the United States. Tho
same year Canada imported timber. lumber.
shingles and other forest PRODUCTS from tho
United States for consumption 20 the amount or
81 JJ0OOW
FEARS THOUGHT TO BE rNFOU NDED.
As to the evident fear of tho American farmer
and lumberman that III, free admission If Cana
dian farm products and lumber will lower prices
in the United States Mr.. Charlton expressed the
belief that these fears were ill-foundtd. IN"
Canadian sought for free admission under tho
belief that he would receive an increase of price.
and but for this belief he would he Indifferent as
to whether concessions were made or not. IN.
amount of lumber of farm products admitted
free would be so tri1ing WREN compared win
I he great bulk of American production az TO he
likely to influence prices in the United states
slightly, If ar all.
70 The objection raised that reciprocity would
make Canada rich. ilr Charl on SAID mat "
would make both canada AMI the United states
richer and the ben fits conferred would be mu-
tual If free Intercourse between states or pc
tween groups of states such as the Eas''rh' nhs
Middle the South 'rr. the Western ana the IA
cidc Slope were advantageous. the same system
could be extended with equal ADVANTAGE 10 inc
group of states known as ne 'ahadl"n PRIV,
inces and no influ oncc natural or geographical.
would Interfere with the harmonious operation
of the principle in case Of such extension
CANADA WILL COME HALFWAY.
Canada. he said would gladly meet the Cnited
States in the middle of the stream. She Is pre-
pared TO settle the vexed Atlantic fisheries ques-
ton on the basis Of good neighborhood ana
modern commercial comfy. She was prepared
TO make arrangements for deep waterway
sha
he cost Of construction on the basis or relative
interests and for fair system or Joint controi;
and in all these purposes Mr. Laurler ana n's
Government will be actrated not only ny ue-
sire 10 establish the relations between the
United States and Canada on a mutually ad-
vantageous and friendly basis. but also by the
homo that such an Arrangement VIII prove con-
ducive 10 the peace and welfare OF the two
great Anglo Saxon nations Of the world
Mr. Charlton furnished some interesting ns-
ures az to Canadian trade. For the year lS.'o
tho exports to the United States were Sll.29I,-
900 The imports were SJI63iOn or which
SD 195 900 were dutiable and S2s.s's,Vp were
free The balance of trade against Canada
was SI3336OOD. and the average rate %
duty on the total importations from the United
States was 1916 per cent.
For the same year the Canadian exports 10
England were S6l .SJ6.0oo and the imports wers
sal 13l 600 Of which S23.3ll.poo were dutiabls
and s1s9ooo free T Sno 6a'amSe of trade RAJ, IN
erage rate OF duty the total importations
from Great Britain was 2-'2 per cent FOR
the same year the Canadian exports 10 an o,m n
countries were SiO $40 600 and the imports S1!.-
4SG 900 Of which S?4Joooo were dutiable and
$40 O3G 900 free. The average rate OF duty on
the total OF these importations was - per
cent
At THE PARTING OF THE WAYS.
One statement which Mr. Charlton empha-
sized seems to possess significance. He rep
resents Canada as now standing at the part
ing Of the ways. on the one hand are more
friendly business and social relations with tho
United states and the gradual closing ~ the
gan which has been widening since 1866 on
Inc other hand are imperial confederation, En-
mir. consultations a distinctive British system
embracing the motherland and all Of her colo
MICS. improved steamship and cable service; df-
duties in England In favor Of the colo