Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-30
TIE REcIPRooirF MoHnMEnr

The convention soon to be held at
Detroit to discuss and urge commercial
reciprocity will at least have the effect
to revive public interest In the subject,
IL it shall have no other result. Since
the Buffalo speech Of President McKin-
ley, In which he said that reciprocity
is the natural outgrowth Of our wonder
full industrial development under the do
nestle policy now firmly established
and that reciprocity treaties are in
harmony with the times,' the question
has received a great deal of attention.
The reciprocity policy was endorsed by
a number of the republican CONVEX tons
of this yea Yet there are still many
who are opposed to it and it cannot be
confidently asserted that the policy is
approved by a majority Of the people.
1t is stated that the object Of the De-
trOit convention is to specially urge
reciprocity with Cuba and with Canada.
A treaty intended to establish closer
commercial relations with the island re-
public is being framed and will probably
be ready for submission to congress at
the coming session. 1t is the under
standing that President Roosevelt will
again earnestly advocate reciprocity with
Cuba as a matter of national duty and
honor and a public expression in sup
port Of this view may prove helpful to
the administration in its efforts to induce
congress to ratify a treaty. There is no
indication that Cuban reciprocity has
gained supporters in congress since the
last session, though it probably is some
what stronger.
AS to reciprocity with Canada there is
no prospect of its attainment in the near
future, or indeed until that country shall
show a better disposition regarding
issues awaiting settlement and abandon
its unwarranted claims in connection
with the Alaskan boundary. There is a
strong sentiment in New England favor
able to closer trade relations with the
Dominion and this is shared to some
extent in the northwest, but there will
be nothing done In this direction so long
as Canada adheres to the position taken
in the joint high commission in making
the settlement Of the questions sub
mitted to that body contingent upon the
concession Of her demands in Alaska.
The advocates Of reciprocity with the
Dominion urge that our government
should now take the initiative in asking
that the joint high commission be re-
convened, but as Senator Lodge said in
regard to this proposition, the United
States will not go hat in hand to Can
ada and ask for a renewal of negotia-
tons that were terminated because Of
the attitude of that country in respect
to Alaska, which it still maintains. The
Joint high commission was created at
the instance of u government, which
has always been DESTROYS OF effecting
a fair and just settlement of the matters
in controversy between h Dominion
and this country. The failure of the
commission to accomplish anything was
due to Canada and it is not incumbent
upon the United States to ask for the
r%econvening Of the commission.
Commercial reciprocity is n Of the
i've and important questions, relating
particularly to the expansion of our for
eign trade. 1t therefore merits the most
careful consideration and the interest of
all who are concerned in the growth Of
our external commerce.