The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-27
THAT PREFERENTIAL
Canada Studying Hard on How to
Give It to Great Britain With
4 out Hurting Herself.
The Montreal Congress Brought the
Canadian and British Leaders
Nearer Together.
From a staff Correspondent.

Ottawa, Aug. 26.-Perhaps the greatest
good to follow the imperial congress of
chambers Of commerce in Montreal, so far
as Canada is concerned, will be the ac-
curate informatio which the congress will
give the commercial leaders of the empire
as to Canada's inclnations and limita-
tons, so far as the promotion of British
trade is concerned. A great deal has been
said in the mother country to what
Canada ought to do, and great deal more
has been thought--most of it not alto
gether complimentary to Canada. The
proceeding Of the congress have revealed
the fact that Canada, while loyal, feels
that tho a part Of the empire, her first
duty is to herself. Her loyalty is almost
painfully controlled by circumstances, and
the delegates from England have been In
terested, during their sojourn in Montreal,
in complimenting the one and in studying
the other.
Canada is primarily an agricultural
country, struggling, as was the United
States fifty years ago, to build up manu-
featuring Industries and live within her
self. She wants a market for her grain,
preferably in England, and in return for
some concessions there in her favor, would
doubtless make certain concessions to
British manufactured goods here. Just
how the latter part of this program is to
be carried out is the question that is vex-
ing the Canadian people, for to the ex-
tent that Canada admits British manufac-
tured articles into her borders at a, low
rate of duty, or duty free, she will post
pone the day when she will be a great
manufacturing country. However, the
problem, while knotty, is perhaps not i'm
possible Of solution. For the present, 1t is
the one thing which stands most stubborn
ly in the way of an immediate acceptance
Of the Chamberlain preferential.
The Dream of Canada.
with a bonus on Colonial grain in
Great Britain, Canada would hope in few
year to become the greatest wheat pro-
ducing country in the world This Is the
dream Of her agricultural classes, and it Is
being kept steadily in mind by the poll
ticians in both parties The question Is,
how much will Canada have to give in the
way of a preferential in favor of British
manufacturers to bring this about, and
how will such preferential affect her
manufacturing industries?
1t is declared on high authority that
Canada will never consent to the spending
of a penny in England that can be spent
in Canada, and her people claim that this
is good innperialisrn-i i'm perial charity, like
any other beginning at home. She will
consent, however, say her leading men, to
purchase from England what she could
buy from the United States or elsewhere
at a. lower price, provided this difference
in price does not unfavorably affect any
Canadian industry. Canadians will con-
sent to purchase from England those
goods which the American business man
would be selling them if he had the oppor-
tunity and some Of which he is selling
| them, notwithstanding the tariff handi-
cap.
| Canadian Loyalty Unquestioned.
The Montreal congress has enabled the
British manufacturer to study Canadian
questions on the ground, and understand
| that Canada's reluctance to give England
| a better market does not mean that she Is
not loyal to the empire and willing to &C
the full length to see it strengthened. Il
has enabled the Canadians to come III
personal contact with leading British bush
ness mon and get their point of view re-.
garding the great trade questions con
! fronting the empire. 1t does not, how