The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-11-11
THE CANADIAN MISSION
VISIT or PREMIER LAURIER AND
MINISTER DAVIS IS FRAUGHT
WITH IMPORTANCE.
Several IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Sealing Controversy Is Not the Only
One 10 he Observation-Disclosures
and Reciprocity Are Booked
for Discussion.

Washington, Nov. S.-1he authorities
have been advised that the arrival to-
morrow of Sir Wilfred Laurier, premier
of Canada: Sir Louis Davis, minister of
marine in the I.aurier cabinet and other
officials of the dominion is to have an
important bearing, not only on the Boring
sea settlement but all the pending ques-
,tiens which have been sources of inter
national complication between the United
States and Canada. namely, the passing
of alien laborcrs from Canada to the
United States, the north Atlantic fisher
ies question, the fisheries trouble along
the great lakes, the bonding privilege
granted Canadian railways. the contro-
versy over the rights on the Frazer river,
British Columbia and in the Puget Sound
and also the question of Il reciprocity
arrangement between the United States
and Canada. There is direct and definite
Information that Sir Wilfred comes pre-
pared TO take up all these questions and
If possible include them in one general
settlement whereby the constant friction
they have been engaged in may be over
come.
On some of these subjects he will con
fer with President Mckinley, and in at
least one of them. that relating TO alien
labOrers crossing the border. he will sug-
gcst such notifications as will give ma
terial advantage to thousands of Amefi-
cans now in the Klondikc.
The essential features of Sir Wilfrcd's
mission were communicated to the au-
thOrities here by persons fully advised
of the prcmicr'S plans and II can be said
that the suggestions that the decks be
cleared of existing disputes between Can
ada and the United States met with ia
v0r from the administration. While the
Boring sea settlement occasoncd the visit
Of the Canadian premier. the Canadian
authorities attach much less Importance
10 il than they do to the other questions
mentioned. They say that the Canadian
sealing Interest Is confined almost entirely
10 the far western territory, where the
seaIcrs iii out, and that even there is !
considerable percentage of the so-callcd |
Canadian scalcrs that hail from Seattle |
San Francisco ana other American ports |
who fit out in Canadian ports under the !
British flag What basis of settlement |
can be reached is not disclosed but little |
doubt, il Is said. is felt by the Canadians |
that an amicable adjustment can he
made. Among the plans suggested Is
that Of an indemnity large enough TO
permit Canada to buy out the sealers and
retire them from business With this
done. the United States Russia. Japan.
Grcad Britain and Canada would bc to-
Sc,har IN II suppression of pelagc seal
ang. There is no determination. However
10 advance this plan in preference TO
Others and the scope of the settlement
will remain in doubt until the neGotia-
liens open.
Sir Wilfred Laurier and his associates
will urge strongly that the border immi-
grafton question be settled and on this
point will confer with the president.
Under the premicr's direction the Cana
dian parliament passed an alien immi-
grafton law last spring, by which Ameri-
san contractors and American laborcrs
Were debarred for competing in the work
on the Crows Nest pass railroad, gov
crnmental undertaking, in western Can
ada. On the other hand, il is claimed
10y the Canadians that about 5000 Amer
leans are in the Klondikc territory be-
longing to Canada and that fully 10000
American laborcrS are working in the
mines of British Columbia. The United
States immigration laws, il is asserted,
are administered with harshncSs along
the Canadian border and are n daily
source of irritation.
Sir Wilfred I.auricr will suggest that
the causes of irritation be removed on
both sides, and il is understood he is OK
pected to offer II repeal of Canadian re-
strictons in the Klondikc and other re
gi0ns if the administration of the Amcri-
can law is made more lcnicnt. In this
connection also the cooperation of the
United States is desired in the plans of
the Canadian authorities to make an
easy route TO the Klondikc.
On the matter of reciprocity the gen
'rral purpose of the negotiations will be
10 give the United States the benefit of
The minimum clause of the present Cana
dian law in exchange for the 20 per cent
reduction allowed under the Dinglcy law.
the desire of Sir Wilfred and his Assoc
ciates will be to conGnc the arrangement
We a. few important articles allowing time
no develop its usefulness and extend its
scope. On the part of Canada the ar
tieles likely to be proposed for reciprocity
are:
Fish. coal. lumber and barley. On the
part of the United States the articles
likely to figure iii the negotiation are
coal, coal oil. corn, rye and electric sup
plies, machinery of all kinds, agricultural
supplements, native woods, watches,
clocks, cotton and certain forms of iron
and steel. The Canadian law RENTS one
eighth of duties this year and one-fourth
next year TO such countries as give ad-
vantages TO Canada. At present British
goods get this reduction. while Amer-
can goods do not.
The northern Atlantic fisheries contro-
yersy is of long duration. 1t took
menaclng aspect some years ago and at
that time fisheries commission CON
vened at Washington and made n modus
yiycndi serving as Il temporary settle
ment. The modus vivendi is still in OPP
grafton and under it American vessels
must pay license to the Canadians for
the privilege of trans-shipment at Cana
dian ports, taking bait, etc. The license
system has proved to he hardship and
efforts will be made TO reach more sat
isfactOry system. II has been made
known 10 the officials here that the Ca