The times., 1898-09-10
PROBLEMS AT QUEBEC.
An English View of the Work OF
the Coumissis

(From the New York Commercial Adyertiser)
London. Aug. 27-Even the Englishman
that usually follows closely the course or
public affairs is too absorbed in his holi-
day to pay much heed to the meeting OF
the American and Canadian commission
ers at Quebec; but the newspapers COM
ment upon IL al length. and in the col
onial office In particular there Is keen IN
terest in the progress and the outcome OF
the deliberations. The notion Is abroad IN
London, and probably also i'm New YORK
and Boston. that the conference is one
result of the Anglo-American rapproche-
ment induced by the recent Spanish war.
In fact. on this side of the sea, it was
projected months before the relations or
the United States and Spain became acute.
When Sir Wilfrid Laurier visited London
at the Queens jubilee in 1897 he discussed
at length with Mr. Chamberlain the re-
curing and mutually irritating differ
ences between Washington and Ottawa.
The colonial secretary suggested confer
ence between representatives of the two
countries that should deal with all mat
ters in issue so that there should be room
for reciprocal concessions. The Canadian
premier approved the plan, and MIR. Cham-
berIain left to him the choice of the most
opportune time for the proposal of the ne
gotiations promising every assistance
Had Sir Wilfrid been able TO gain earlier
the ear of the Administration at Washing
ton, which was already preoccupied with
the Cuban question, the conference would
have probably been arranged early last
winter AS it proved, every day of delay,
with the increasing tension of Spanish
American relations and the obvious sym
pathy and support of England for the
United States, made the arrangement cas-
Ter, and chance once again aided Mr..
Chamberlain.
When the American commissioners
were named, the choice of one or two of
them disappointed English anticipauons.
Mr.. Dingley, in English eyes, stands rig
orously for tariff policy that is no help
to the adjustment of commercial dlffer-
ences between Washington and ottawa
To write quite frankly, many Engiishmen
in the official world of Whitehall cannot
understand why Mr. Foster should have
the reputation as a diplomatist that ne
presumably enjoys in the United States
They have been known to speak lightly
of his abilities and still more lightly OF,
his manners in controversy. If these ap-
pointments a little dashed some nlgn
hopes of the commission, there was no
disposition to dwell upon them, while re-
ports from Quebec that the negouators
were already finding formidable obstacles
to agreement have scarcely quickened ap-
prehension They do not come from very
Trustworthy uuarters: the conference is
hardly at work yet; and long experience
shows that such commissions, II they
are genuinely seeking an understanding,
finally discover way to 1t.
There is every anticipation here in Lon
don that the negotiators will do so over
many of the minor matters at issue Whiie
the Anglo-Saxon love of compromise and
slow advance to desired goal may thrust
the vexing question of reciprocity in the
tariffs of Canada and of the United states
again into the future. The pfererehtial
tariff that Sir Wilfrid Laurier laid upon
British imports into the Dominion Is one
of the cardinal points of Mr.. Chamber
lain's colonial policy, and. though IN pfae-
tice il has still to be tested. it has brought
much credit in English opinion to both
men. and drawn the mother country ana
the colony closer together than they have
been for years Mr. Chamberlain and Sir
Wiifrid are warm in friendship 10 tue
United States. but in question OF con-
cessions that would impair imperial IN
terests the latter would probably prove
the stronger There is no expectation III
well-nformed quarters here tnat Canaua
will grant any trade privileges to the
United States not accorded to the mother
country also. or even modify Its pro-
British tariff. Moreover, there is no evil
dence as yet on this side of the sea, De
yond vague rumors, that the American
commissioners ask or anticipate SO con-
siderable a concession.