The sun., 1899-05-07
CANADIAN RECIPROCITY IDEAS.
Mr.. Fielding's Speech ContradictinE the
Assertions of Premier Laurier.

Mr.. Fielding's Speech Contradicting the
Assertions of Premier Laurier.
QUEBEC. May 5.-The Present Canadian tariff
is to remain unchanged for the next twelve
months in the hope that the United States will
change hers in the direction OF making further
concessions to Canada. This is the real mean
ing OF the important tariff announcements
contained in the recent budget speech Of Mr..
Fielding. the Canadian Treasurer. One Of his
utterances will be deemed OF great Importance
by American readers. This was neither more
nor less than the contradiction OF a statement
made some time ago by his own leader. Sir
Wilfrid Laurer. respecting reciprocity. The
Prime Minister in a recent speech. said that 1t
appeared as IL Canada no longer wanted rec-
procity with the United States Mr.. Fielding
declared that this statement was stronger than
most OF them would care to make II. and an
nounced. on the contrary. that there never was
time when reciprocity was not desirable. and
that there is never likely to be a time in the
history OF Canada whom 1t will not be desirable
that reasonable trade relations should exist
between the people OF Canada and the
United States. He said that the people who
live along the boundary line. whether in tho
United States or in Canada. must always find
it a source of Inconvenience and Of embsrrass-
ment to be denied profi.a BILE and reasonable
commercial intercourse. He frankly admitted
that he fully recognized this AS As respects the
Mai OF the Premier's recent bold declaration.
and his absence, at the time from the House OF
Sir Wilfrid's colleagues in the administration
realize the fact that he went too far in his big
sq
are not to be withdrawn from the programme
q the ds6srat9Rs bst Of Tx Joint High
%e ne ende%yors @ 81 to sonvey the idea that f tie
as suppIiant for reciprocity. desirable as he
admits it to. be. Those acquainted with the
actual condition OF Canadian trade are we'll
his population OF his leaders big bluff He
INDUCES dSei.rdI in small or one himself 1H when
for reciprocal trade relations with the United
States is by no means so strong. as
this Stand he dweit upon the so.caiied So British
preference as II to indicate that II was creating
for the extension Of
are "Ss we'll @ d here to eS put n
American memSers OF the Joint High Com
mission, For their special peca benefit no
Commissioners will resume their important
duties at Quebec in August Angus With the same
trade relations with, our American brethren.
II It shall appear that no such arrangement
shall be prepared TO go on our own way cheer
fully. with full confidence in the resources OF
develop them successfully. for there is but ono
feeling among Canadian people. from ocean to
ocean, that Canada shall have fair treaty or
no treaty at all"
so far as concerns the West Indies, at any
rate. tho Government has discovered that its
n strange perversity the inhabitants OF the
West Indies have continued to trade with the
phenomenon having attracted Mr.. Fieldng's
attention. he was moved TO examine into its
amazement. that they do 1t because 1t pays
them better. The preference OF 25 per cent In
the Canadian market is not SUFFICIENT, II an
1pdian cane sugar obtains In the United States
through the system OF countervailing duties
on beet sugar imported from countries which
pay bounty.