Evening star., 1902-09-12
TO TALK RECIPROCITY
The Newfoundland Premier
in the City.
OBJECT OF HIS VISIT
NOT OFFICIALLY KNOWN TO THE
STATE DEPARTMENT.
Sir Robert Bond to Be Presented to
Acting Secretary Adee by Mr..
Raikess of British Embassy.

Mr.. Raikes, British charge Of embassy,
who has just arrived in Washington, has
made an appointment with Mr.. Adee, the
acting secretary of state, to receive Sir
Robert Bond, the Newfoundland premier
who is at the Arlington. Although Sir
Robert has not disguised his purpose OF
taking steps to ascertain what can be done
toward the negotiation of a reciprocity ar
rangement between Newfoundland and the
United States, asserting that he is acting
IN accordance with understanding lad
with Lord Lansdowne, the object of mis-
mission to Washington is not officially
known to the State Department, and he VIII
be received as would any other distinguish
ed person without reference to official busi-
ness. 1t is improbable that Mr. Adee VIII
be prepared to enter into any engagement
with his caller upon this important subject
in the absence of definite instructions from.
the executive.
Sir Robert Bonds Mission.
recent dispatch from ST. Johns, N. F..
said regarding Sir Robert Bonds visit:
Sir Robert Bonds mission to Washington,
to discuss reciprocity in fish products, it is
thought here, will probably raise again the
whole issue of free trade with Canada. The
Newfoundland premier has something to
offer the United States for the concession
OF reciprocity in fish products.
Inc American fishermen want bait to
carry on their operations, and this bait is
procurable only in Newfoundland waters
The Americans buy this and pack it in ice
for use on the Banks AS the Americans
nave no fishing rights within the three
mile limit. they have to recognize New
foundland authority by obtaining a license
and paying fee of $50 ton register.
Last niOptV-OiOe ont Of he
dian fleet of 157 obtained bait in Newfound-
lanC waters. and siXty-siX American yes
sells also batted there, besides which nearly
2ooDo0 barrels of herring were taken from
there in American bottoms to be used as
bait for the United States fishermen on the
Southern Banks and the New England
coast.
Before the Joint Commission.
This question of fishery reciprocity proved
one of the most complicated of those before
the Joint high commission which sat at
WashnetOn and Quebec in 1898
No arrangement was reached by the COM
mission, one of the main reasons being
that Newfoundland and Canada had di-
Vergent interests. The American delegates
We're willing to frame an agreement with
Newfoundland, but not with Canada The
reasons were that Newfoundland could
give bait supply to the Americans and
would require a market for only mart of
its catch of fish, whereas If reciprocity
were granted to Canada she would want to
send her whole catch into American mar
kets, and would have no bait to give in
return.
New Markets for Fish.
BY the acquisition of Porto Rico and the
close relations with Cuba, the United
States fishermen have secured two valu-
able new markets for fish, from which the
Canadians are being excluded BY means of
a discriminating duty of three-fourths of
a cent a pound This betters the position
OF the American fish exporters, and weak
ems that of the Canadians, who have large
stocks on hand now and no means of dis
posing of them. They would be glad to
throw these into the United States now
under reciprocity, hoping to find new mar
kets there. The Canadians conduct their
hsheries more cheaply by about 40 per cent
than the Americans being aided in this bv
thelf closer proximity to the fishing
grounds.
The Bond-Blaine convention will doubtless
be; renewed it is thought here 1t Will
serve as an experiment in reciprocity.
Sir Roberts Announcement.
Sir Robert Bond while at Montreal. on
his way to this city, said: 1T is true that
the imperial government has sanctioned
the reopening Of negotiations for trade
arrangement between Newfoundland and
the United States, and 1 will leave for
Washington at once for that purpose. I
am not in position now even to make any
further statement in regard to the mat
ter.