The times., 1898-06-11
COMMONS DISCUSS US.
The Government Questioned as to
AnGIo-American Affairs.

He said the commission would not be |
confined to the consideration of matters |
solely affecting Canada. The terms of |
the agreement, he added, were only set
tied yesterday
Mr.. Dayitt questioned the government
as to the number of British and Canadian
representatives who would form part CT
the commission to settle or arbitrate the
matters in dispute between the United
States and the imperial government. He
also desired information as to whether
the subjects to be considered all related
to Canada and the United States, or il
specific British interests would come be-
fore the commission, and whether the
agreement for the appointment of the
commission had received the approval of
the American Senate.
Mr.. Curzon. in reply. said that the APP
pointment of the commissioners had not
yet been decided upon. All the subjects
to be discussed affected Canada and the
United States, but some of them were of
imperial interest.
In conclusion, Mr.. Curzon said:
81 imagine the agreement has not been
submitted to the Senate"
Mr.. Davitt then asked If any of the
terms proposed by Lord Salisbury as the
basis of an arbitration treaty between
Great Britain and the United States were
included in the terms of the present
agreement.
Mir. Curzon replied that the negotiations
in 1898 concerned the conclusion of
general arbitration treaty and did not
include specific proposals.
Sir Charles Dixie moved to reduce the
foreign office vote as a protest against
the failure of the government foreign
policy. a lengthy debate followed, which
centered largely on Mr.. Chamberlain
Birmingham speech regarding alliances
and Great Brltain's relations with the
United States. Sir Charles denied that the
/ improvement in the Anglo-Saxon relations
/ was aseribable- to the government, whose
| policy, he said, was rash and feeble every
where, and especially towards the United
States. Everybody knew that war alll-
/ ance between Great Britain and the Unit
ed States was out of the question
Mr.. Curzon, while paying tribute 10
Sir Julian anecdotes admirable diplo-
macy in Washington, claimed that the
/ betterment in the Anglo-American rela-
tons were largely due to the persistently
friendly and calm attitude of Lord Sails
bury is discussing the difficulties that
arose three years ago.
/ Lord Salisbury's arbitration treaty, he
said, would some day be accepted. The
Venezuela dispute was in fair process of
settlement, and the -Behring- S a question
Il !,
to meet shortly at Quebec. Lord Sails
bury's temperate. courteous action was
bearing fruit on all sides. and was max
| Ing hopefully toward peace.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, the Lead
er OF the opposition in the house. said
that nobody was more anxious and more
eager than himself for closer and more
permanent relations with the United
States. The cultivation OF such relations
had been the foremost aim of his public
life The liberal party had placed the
friendship of the United States among
the most valued objects of England 5
foreign policy.
Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, secretary OF
state for the colonies. repudieted the sug-
gestions based on his Birmingham speech
lf-eiL tllt tsiEliitA NsiS rAiNlIE-tl anu
cia!ly that the relations between himself
and Lord Salisbury were strained. He
had propounded no policy in his speech,
He had merely Illustrated the fact that
there were certain things Great Britain
could not do, though he believed she was
the most powerful empire in the world
He denied that he had touted for alliance
He admitted that he used the strongest
words ne could when he urged the most
cordial relations with the United States
Mr.. Chamberlain was dwelling upon this
subject as he had in his original speech
when he was interrupted by an Irish
member shouting:
THE Irish will have something to say
about that
Yes" Mr.. Chamberlain replied. "but ]
am thankful to know that the Americans
will not listen to them, as 1 know some
thing about America and I can assure
the honorable member that he is mis-
taken if he thinks for the moment that
the Irish in America will be allowed to
come between the sympathy existing be-
tween the two countries. They may talk
of twisting the lions tail, but when a
J
Angio-Saxon race in the United States
viii be with US. They do not want ON
assistance at the moment, and we dc
not want theirs, but who can say that
occasions may not arise when Anglo
Saxon liberties will be threatened? In
that event whether the United States OF
Great Britain is threatened, blood will be
| found thicker than water"
Mr.. John Dillon declared that nobod!
: had done more to injure the prospects o.
an alliance than Mr. Chamberlain him
self, whose insults. far from increasing
J sympathy, would have an opposite eff
feet.
Sir Charles Dilke's motion was reject
ed by a vote of % to 12s.
VOLUNTEERS TO VOTE.