Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-11-13
LAURIER'S MISSION.
Canada's Premier Comes With q
Message Of Peace. LII
TO SETTLE ALL CONTROVERSIES.

Tho Canadians Attach Little Import
ance to the Boring Sea Dispute. ana
WIN Endeavor TO Settle More Es-
peciRlly the Alien Labor Dimculty.
Washington. Nov. 9.-The authori-
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 ali 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
Element 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-
lating to alien laborers crossing the
border, he win suggest such mutual
notifications OF present restrictions as
| in his opinion win be of material ad-
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
ficials here by a person fully advised
/ of the premier's plans, and II 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 Bering sea settlement occasioned
the visit. the Canadian authorities at
| tach much less Importance to II than
they do to the other questions men
toned. Little doubt. it is said, is felt
by the Canadians that an amicablt
adjustment of the sealing question car
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 Canals
would be together in a suppression Of
pelagic sealing.
Under the Canadian premier's dIrec
ton the Canadian parliament passed ar
alien immigration law last spring. by
which American contractors and Amer
lean laborers were barred from compel
ing in the work on the Crows Nesi
, Pass railway, a government undertake
ing in western Canada. On the othe
hand, II is claimed by the Canadian
! that about 5000 Americans are in tn
Klondike territory belonging to Canada
and that fully 10000 American contrac
laborers are working in the mines o
British Columbia The United State
: immigration laws, It is asserted, ar
! administered with harshness along tn
Canadian border, and are a daily sourc
of irritation. Sir Wilfred is prepares
to offer a repeal OF Canadian restric
7 tions in the Klondil1e and other re
r gions IL the administration OF tn
: American law is made more lenient.
On the matter Of reciprocity. the gen
eral purpose OF the negotiations Wi
? be to give the United States the ben
! eft of the minimum clause OF tn
present Canadian law in exchange 10
the 20 per cent reduction allowed unde
the Dingley law. The desire OF 81
Wilfred and his associates Will be I
S confine the arrangement to a few i'm
portant articles. allowing time to dc
velop its usefulness and extend II
scope.