The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-11-18

Chief Qusstion unde. considerrt,or ~
Anglo. = merlcen commissioners


chlef ousstion unde. copsidesrtsor ~
Anglo -mersccn JommisssonsFs.
Washington Nov l7--The AnslorAmer-
lean commission now ln session here to
adjust differences between the United
States and Canada. today held a lengthy
session upon the two subjects which are
regarded as most important namely the
North Atlantic fisheries and reciprocity
The fisheries question was practically up
for the FIRST time. and It was quite def
initely understood that the position of the
Canadian government was made clear in
favor OF granting large rights TO Ameri-
can fisherman in Canadian waters. IL in
return Canadian fish are admitted free Of
duty to American markets. IL is expected
that this win open up a Wide range OF
discussion and an immediate adjustment
Is not loked for Concerning reciprocity.
Il has developed that whllo some prog
ress IL being made In considering certain
articles which will be the basis Of rec.
iprocity. yet the commissioners are like
ly TO Insist. az "A preliminary TO amy rec
lprocity. that Canada shall wipe out that
feature of her tariff law which gievs to
Great Britain preference Of 25 per cent
on all taii1 duties. II this important CON
cession Is made by Canada ana conceded
by Lord Herchel, then it IN said that a
reciprocity list VIII probably be agreed
upon. without the abolition Of preferen-
tial rates to Great Britain, the op'a,on Is
very positively expressed tr., .g siprcc-
ity agreement came. 90 rcr,Nc1
EFFECTS OF PRE- EHEN-p
Tho reason for this, It l. poiaeed out, Is
that the Canadian law giving Great Brit
ain preference within the last year has
diverted trade from the United States and
turned t into British channels. The effect
has been to reduce materially the sales
Of American cotton goods. hardware and
other lines In Canada. and TO increase
the sales of British gods one OF the Am
erican experts said today that the ship
ment OF cotton cloth to Canada had fall
en- on 81 .775.O0O in 1897 to S7Ss 900 in 1898.
loss Of about 81 90 900. due to the fact
that British cotton cloths received a pre-
ference OF % per cent In the duties.
WHAT AMERICA DESIRES.
Tho American commlssioners feel that
Iif they can succeed in having this British
preferential stopped It win be greater
than any reciprocity agreement The de-
bate thus far has encouraged the Amerl-
can commissioners to believe that they
viii succeed IN having this preferential
wiped out
ing and aside from the Importance TO the
commerce OF the New England and Cana
dian commerce, It is to give tho basis for
a possible serious conflict between this
country and Great Britain.
This doubtless would lead to serious in.
ternational complications, This has been
the view Of members Of the commission
and as result they are anxious to Sc
lcure a settlement Of this question.
A high Canadian official today STATED
the Canadian Of this fisheries question al
follows;
CANADfAS POSITION.
The position OF the Canadian government
is not, 1 think, very well understood IL
the United States. The treaty Of ISIS pro
vides, roughly speaking. that the United
States fishermen shall not have access &c
the inhabited coasts Of the Canadian sea
board. on those coasts American fisher
men arc not entitled to land. save for
four purposes specifically named In the
treaty namely for wood, water. shelter
and repairs. The object OF the treaty
was not obviously to give Canadians ex-
elusive control OF their own coasts as a
base OF operations for carrying on the
fishery. Such has been the Canadian In
depreciation ever since the treaty was
framed and the United States has accept
can fshermen wish to buy bait in Cana
dian ports. 10 ship crews, to purchase
supplies, including ice, and 10 bond their
fish. that IS. 20 trans-ship them IN bond,
either TO Canadian railways or to steam
ers bound for tho United States, so that
they may get rid OF their cargo quickly
and hurry back 20 ,ho banks, instead OF
carrying It to Boston or Gloucester and
going back. which entails loss of time.
The Uitedn States purchased these pri-
vfeges in 1854 By abolishing the duties
on Canadian fish. II purchased them
again by giving free FISH in return, un-
der tho Washington treaty Of 1871. SO
also IN 1895 the Bayard- d-Chamberlain pro-
ject virtually granted 4ree FISH IN ex-
change FOR those privileges.
1T win thus be seen that tho United