Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-01
TO SETTLE DISPUTES
Some Matters in Controversy
With Canada.
HOPES OF SECRETARY ROOT
Will Try to Reach a Point of Agree
ment
GRIEVANCES OF FISHERMEN
Alleged Unjust Discrimination and
Denial of Rights-Seal Question
Numerous Other Topics.
GRIEVANCES OF FISHERMEN

Convinced that reciprocity treaties with
Great Britain for the establishment of
closer trade relations between the United
States and Canada are out of the question
at this time, Secretary Root has determined
TO abandon the tariff question for the pres
ent and is busying himself with other mat
tiers of vital interest TO this country and
Canada in the hope OF settling points of
difference which babe fair to lie settled by
the joint high commission when the Klor-
dixie gold strike caused the negotiations to
be broken Off suddenly and engendered
feeling of hostility which lid not subside
until mixed tribunal fixed the boundary
between the British and American mineral
lands
A canvass Of the Senate persuaded Secre-
tary Root that reciprocity would not be
considered at this Session OF Coz gress.5 Al
though there was much ctarnor fne tariff
revision and modification early in the ses-
sion. it failed to gain many supporters. and
the recent announcement of CHAIRMAN
Payne OF the House commute on ways
and means that no .ariT legislation would
be passed by this Congress confirmed the
reports that republican leaders hld agreed
20 accept the counsel of the ''stagC-pat-
ters
AS the State Department is under ohliga-
lions to obtain concessions for Germany
in return for the fav:,~ SHOWN to he United
States by permitting this country 10 Ie
main among the favored nations in spite
of the diserfnina tory tariffs recently put
into force by the German government Sec
rotary Root feels that il would not &c wse
to undertake other tariff prop PSI items AT d
time when legislat tors seem so little Inclined
to tariff changes.
Moreover. the dem2nd for reciprocity tc-
tween the United States ana Canada Goes
\, 4
joint high commission began tie c.ynstdera-
ton of the subject in 1895. Canadians have
cooied IN their ardor and do not show any
great desire to have American manufac-
tured articles admitted at a low rate in cx-
change for Canadian raw materials
A score of mooted questions was uIdsr
consideration when the Alaskan boundary
dispute ended the negotiations and focused
attention on the Alaskan gold fields. Sec
rotary Root feels that the time has come
Tor taking up the broken strands where the
joint high commission left them.
To Save Niagara Falls.
The preservation of Niagara Falls is per
maps the most interesting of the new inter-
hauonai problems which has devaIoped
SINCE 1913 Canada mas shown a d;sposi-
Ton 10 cooperate with this country in pre-
venting the diversion CT the wate~ from, the
iahs' ana the report of the international
waterways commission will doubtless form
me OASIS Tor a treaty to protect the falls
PRESIDENT Roosevelt has supplemented the
EFFORTS OF the State Department I'M :nis mat
pected. ' "F GA
Although the joiat high commission uas
lever formally dissolved, it has been MORT
pune Tor so many years that neither Great
bFltain nor the United States regards If
dS sun IN existence, and it is not likely
mat any effort viii be made to revive this
commission or to bring a similar one into
existence Tor the consideration of Cana
dian and American affairs. Negotiatiors
S Sih 9e conducted by Secretary Root and
Slf Henry Mortimer Durand the British
ambassador. with the cooperation of some
representative of the Canadian government
The issues have become so well defined and
the relations between Great Britain and the
Lifted states are so harmonious at this
time that but little difficulty Is exnarlad
IN framing treaties which will be satfsfac-
tory to both powers.
Alleged Unjust Discrimination.
In spite Of the friendly relations existing
between the United States and Great Brit
ain, International disputes like the recent
trouble between American and Canadian
corporations as to the control Of the St
Johns river between New Brunswick and
Maine and unjust Determinations against
american fishermen along the east coast
OF canada remind statesmen that treaties
are necessary for a more satisfactory def
milton OF water rights and for The i,egula-
ton of fisheries in TIE Atlantic and Pacific
and In the waters of the common frontier
The refusal of Canadians to permit Amer
lean fishermen to buy bait in British terri
tory and other restrictions regarded as nm
just by fishermen from this country caused
the State Department to have the hllreau
o: fisheries send the steamer (irlrlnus into
the waters along the east Canadian coast
to n axe fun investigation Of the fishing
Industry and OF the habits of herring and
other fish taken for commercial use The
bureau has reported TO Secretary Root and
II is believed that this Information will en-
able the United States 10 discover the
source of the alleged wrongs suffered by
New England fishermen who visit New
fcurdland, New Brunswick and Nova SEQ
tan waters.
North Atlantic fisheries have been the
subject of at least fi"e treaties = hich were
perfected, as many more which failed and
several modi vivendi between the United
Stetes and Canada since colonial days.
Commercial treaties have altered tho rela-
tons OF Canada and the United States ma
terlally and have affected the fisheries trea-
ties radically. but at no time have Ameri-
cans been cure of their rights in the Cana.
dian waters. and 1t has always been charged
by American fishermen that they do not
enjoy the privileges In waters adjacent 10
the British land which are insured 10 them
by the laws of nations. regardless of trea-
ties.
Dispute Over Seal Catching.