Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-11-09
CANADA'S PREMIER
Comes Prepared to Settle All
the Vexatious Questions
That Have Been Cause Of Friction
Between Those Countries.
His Purpose Is Source Of Much oratifcailes
10 Uncle Sam.

Washington, Nov. S.-The authorities
here have been advised that the ar
rival, tomorrow. of Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
premier of Canada, Sir Louis Davis.
minister of marine in the Laurier cabi
net, and other officials of the Dominion.
is to have an important bearing not
only the Behring seaIsettlement but on
all the pending questions which have
been sources of international complica-
lions between the United States and
canada, namely, the passage of alien
iaborers to and from Canada, the North
Atlantic fisheries question. the pres
ence of many Americans in the Klon-
dixie territory belonging to Canada, and
in the mining regions of British Colum-
b1a, the fisheries trouble along the
Great lakes. the bonding privileges
granted Canadian railroads, the con-
troversy over rights in the Frazer
river, British Columbia, and in the Pu-
get sound, and also the question OF a
reciprocity arrangement between the
United States and Canada.
There is direct and definite informa-
tion that Sir Wilfred comes prepared to
take up all the questions and il possi-
bic include them in one general settle
ment 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 will suggest such mutual
modification of the present restrictions
as in his opinion. will be of material
I a ,yocr tr, <l1
cans now in the Klondike and British
Columbian mining country and at the
same time will be of advantage to
Canada along the eastern border.
The essential features of Sir Wilfrid's
mission We're communicated to the off,
cials here by persons fully advised of
the premier's 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 Behring sea settlement oc-
casioned the visit of the Canadian pre-.
mier.,, the Canadian authorities attach
much less Importance to it than they
do to the other questions mentioned.
| They say that the Canadian sealing in
tereSts is confined almost entirely to
the far western territory where the
sealers fit out and that even there q
| considerable percentage of so-called
Canadian sealeIs hail from Seattle. San
Francisco and other American ports
and fit out in Canadian ports under the
British flag. What basis of settlement
can be reached it not disclosed, but lit
tie doubt, it is believed is felt by Cana
dians that an amicable adjustment can
be made.
Among the plans suggested is that OF
an indemnity large enough to permit
Canada to buy out the sealers and re-
tire them from business. With this
done, the United States, Russia, Jap
an. Breat Britain and Canada would
be together in a suppression OF pelagic
sealing. There is no determination,
however. to advance this plan in pre-
ference to others and the scope Of the
settlement will remain in doubt until
the negotiations are open.
Sir Wilfrid and his associates will
urge strongly that the border fmmi-
grafton laws be settled and on this
point will confer with the President.
Under the Premier's direction the Cam
adian Parliament passed an alien i'm
migration law. last spring, by which
American contractors and American
labor was barred from competing in
the work on the Crows Nest Pass
Railway, a government undertaking in
Western Canada. On the other hand.
it is claimed by the Canadians that
about 5000 Americans are in the KiOn-
dixie territory belonging to Canada.
and that fully 10000 American con-
tract laborers are working in the mines
of British Columbia. The United
States immigration laws, 1t Is asserted,
are administered with harshness along
the Canadian border and are a daily
source of irritation. Sir Wilfrid, there
fore. will suggest that the causes OF
irritation be removed on both sides and
it is understood that he is prepared to
offer a repeal of Canadian restrictions
in the Klondike and other regions IL
the administration of the American
law is made more lenient.
In this connection. the cooperation
of the United States is desired in plans
of the Canadian authorities to make
an easy route to the Klondike. The
proposed route is by boat from Fort
Wrangle to the Stickene river, which
is in the territory belonging to the
United States and up the Stickene via
Tasland lake to the Yukon river and
thence to the gold fields. AS the
Stickene river is on American soil, 1t
is desired to overcome any possible
controversy, although the treaty OF
Washington is said to make the navi
CATION of the river free to the Cana
dams and Americans alike. The need
of this short route under the patronage
of the Dominion is felt by the Cana
dian Premier to be imperative in view
of the information reaching them that
5000 Australians will go to the
Klondike in the spring. A total of 50.-
900 colonists are expected to head that
way
On the matter iof reciprocity. the
will be to give the United States the
benefit of the minimum clause of the
present Canadian law in exchange for
the 20 per cent. reduction allowed un-
der the Dingaey law.
The desire Of Cir Wiifrid and his assUs
,iates will be to eonnne the arrangement
tcontineed on Rege -