The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-15
Canada and Germany.

The trade relations between Canada and
Germany have played prominent part
in the discussion of Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN
plan of PAN Britannia Zollverein. 1t
is claimed that Germany has penal
lied Canadian products, and that the
mother country has no means of retalia-
ton for this grievous wrong done to one
of her children.
As far as any outward indications go,
our Canadian neighbors are not losing
sleep over their trade relations with Ger
many, nor do trade returns Indicate any
violent luminosity on the part OF Canada.
Canadian-German trade is not very ex-
tensive. Trade returns OF Canadian inn
ports Of Sill 100000 against exports OF
81, 7OO,0 900, for the fiscal year 1902, Indicate
that if any feeling really exists it is
quietly pocketed along with compensat-
ing commercial advantages
AS matter Of fact, ii is not easy to
see just where any special grievance
exists, as far as Canada is concerned,
although the incident has undoubtedly
furnished Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN with key
upon which to hang an apparently forci-
bic argument, that of the absence of re-
taliatory power in the event of an actual
or a supposed trade injury to any part of
the British Empire.
Believing the facts to be unfamiliar
to many of our readers, we submit the
following review of the case. In 1895,
the Liberal party came into power in
Canada. Although the nominal policy
of the party was free trade, it was
deemed inadvisable to attempt any radi-
cal change in the system Of moderate
protection which had been adopted by
its opponent and predecessor in power,
the Conservative party. In the hope of
securing trade advantages and benefits
which the United States denied them,
and with some idea Of establishing closer
relations with the mother country, and
perhaps in the hope of acquiring some
political prestige at home, the new Gov
ernment voted, in 1898, preferential
rate Of IS per cent. on imports from Eng
land, within certain specified conditions.
In 1900 this rate was increased to SO 10
per cent. When Canada's intention to
take this step became known, Germany
stood upon rights granted her by a most
favored nation treaty effected, in 1865,
between Great Britain and the German
Zollyerein. Germany claimed that Can
ada was included in the terms Of that
treaty, and England was obliged to con-
cede the fact At the request of the Col
onies. this treaty was denounced and
England and Germany established new
relations in which Canada was not in
Guided
This aced Canada where, by her own
act and consent, she fell under Germany's
higher tariff rate, which constitutes the
alleged penalzaton. Canada's position
was really that Of willingness to sacrifice
her small interest in the German market
in the hope Of securing a much larger in
tcrest in her far more important and
valuable English market. While the
desired benefits from the English market
have not been realized Canada accepts
her German relations with entire COM
placency, sells where she can, and buys
where she can buy to best advantage.
Both nations We're quite within their
rights and their powers. Canada has no
objection to German recognition of her
fiscal autonomy, and buys what she
wants, in spite Of limited sales OF her own
wares, for which she finds satisfac-
tory market elsewhere. Canada s stock
yards and elevators are in no danger of
becoming choked for lack of a German
market
As it is, Germany takes about 81 100000
worth of cereals; $500, 900 worth Of flax
seed; S225,00O worth Of grass and clover
seed; s350000 worth Of agricultural i'm
plements; few dried apples some
metals, minerals, and sundry other
| items, Canada buys S., 500 600 worth of