The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-30
CANADA and RECIPROCITY.
British Colonies Anxious to Come
to on Understanding.
THE CANUCKS WANT THE ADVANTAGE
several Obstacles Arise which May
Postpone the Confirmation Of
the Treaties Proposed.

Washington. December 30 Sir Julian
Pauncefote. the British ambassador. has
about recovered from long and painful at
tack of rheumatism, which has kept him
in bed for a good part of the last three
months. The fact that he was able to
call at the state department yesterday led
to reports that concident TO Lord Sails
bury's declination of the proposition to stop
pelagic scaling, Sir Julian had renewed
reciprocity negotiations His call. how
ever, had no significance. 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 pro-
ceeded steadily through MIR. Adams first
secretary of the embassy, and Sir Julian
viii now be able to give the matter per-
sonal attention
Tbs main desire of the British West In
dian colonies is to secure the 20 per cent
reciprocity reduction on sugar. What will
be offered In exchange has not yet been
determined. At the outset the purpose Of
the negotiations was confined to the Brit
ish West indies. but the present Indication
is that an effort viii be made to secure
Canada among the colonies receiving adj
y
be done IN View OF the failure of The Bering
sea negotiations is not clear. but it ia
probable that the British government will
prefer to have the negotiations embrace all
the colonies. including Canada, instead OF
repeating the action when the last rect
procity treaties We're framed OF ccnlnlng
them to the West Indian possessions. In
this connection ii may be stated that MI
Kaissen. the special plenipotontiary COM
1 tf,te al M hn oh
| with the conduct OF the negotiations for
| reciprocity and for treaty arrangements
| under the tariff act has not undertaken to
| consider the subject Of reciprocity with
| Canada. This abstention on the part of
! Mr. Kalssen Is attributable to the fact that
| the subject of reciprocity pure and simple,
as described in the tariff act, has become
| SO involved with the seal question and
other issues MS to become practically in
separable from them and so the entire sub
| ject of Canadian relations appears TO re-
| main In the control of eN-Secretary Foster.
II had been expected that the secretary
Of Sir Julian would permit active steps on
the part OF the British American treaty ol
arbitration. There is no present prospect
however. that anything Will be done on
that subject aud up to this time no ne
gotlations have been opened between the
ambassador and the state department.
Both governments have signfied fav'
orable attitude toward reopenng negotia.
tions, but the British government will take
no step whatever until a definite assur-
anco Is at hand that such treaty as may
be negotiated will become effective by the
ratification of the senate
1t Is said that the answer of Lord Sails
bury on tho Boring sea question, which
has hecn fully reported by cable adds n'
new phase to the case as this decinatior
was foreshadowed with certainty as to the
answer Of Sir Wilfred Laurier. the Cana
dian premier, declining to stop pelngi
sealing, The action of Lord Salisbury mere
ly addresses the imperial and official sane
ton to the declnatlon OF the Canadian au
thorlties. AS the Russo Japanese Amer
lean treaty made several weeks ago TO
the stoppago of polagic sealing was cond
toned on the concurrence of Great Britain
, u similar measure to stop pelagic sealing
It Is presumed that the effect of Grea
Britain's action will be to nulify thi
action,