The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-16
Big Results Expected
From Conference of
PremierS.
Canadians Ask Tariff Ar
engagements With
England.
Roots Trip to Ottawa
Was to Cultivate
Trade.

That Foxy Grandpa Ellhu Root is
making some of the troubles of the
British colonial office these days is one
Of the intimations in diplomatic circles
in Washington. The American Secre-
tary of State IS credited with having
lately accomplished some clever results
In connection with American relations
with Canada, which have served to stiff
fen the Canadian backbone in making
demand OF tariff concessions from the
mother country
Secretary Roots recent trip TO ottawa
is alleged to have considerable relation
70 the doing at the conference, IN
London, of the colonial premiers with
the home Office. which is in progress
this week. The Secretary has some
large plans in mind relating to the re-
latiOns of the United States to the
minor countries OF this continent, and
II is said that among these is the de-
sign of a reciprocal tariff arrangement
between this country and Canada. that
viii be OF great advantage to both
countries.
Cultivating Canadian Trade.
Armed with IL confidence born of com
forting assurance that the United
States is going to cultivate Canadian
trade opportunities in future, the Ca
nadians are insisting on preferential
tariff arrangements with Great Britain
which the mother country does not at
all fancy granting.
The Canadians see that their future
apparently lies in the ingress Of Ameri-
can capital and enterprise. They find
that their tariff and their. different ma
uonality cannot keep out American
GODS or American citizens They would
Ike some reciprocal benefits from the
United States, and they have had some
limitations that these are in store for
them. when the American tarin is re-
vised and the maximum and minimum
tariff policy Is adopted. This is now
considered certain to come to pass after
the Presidential election. The Republ-
can party viii without much doubt be
pledged next year not only to reform
ing the schedules, but to adopting the
maximum and minimum policy. The
Canadians calculate that whether En-
gland makes any concessions or not,
they will get these benefits from the
United States, and are prepared 70
urge I0On the British administration
that unless England makes concessions
early and gets trade established under
them, the United States under the new
maximum and minimum schedules will
presently become the best market for
Canadian products, and the chief
source of supply for the things Canada
must import.
Canadians Taking Lead.
The vigor with which the Canadians
are disposed to take the lead for a new
fiscal deal in the conference of premiers
is declared to be explainable TO refer
ence 10 the interviews between Root
and Sir Wilfrid at their recent meet
ings in Canada. It Is believed, in
short, that Secretary Root gave some
assurances to the Canadians about their
prospect for getting a better tariff deal
from the United States that have
greatly strengthened the independent
disposition of the Canadians. They
have two strings to their bow, and are
not very particular with which they
shoot Mr.. Root is anxious to signaIfze
his career as head of the State Depart
ment by drawing closer together the
states Of this continent. and that he
has had designs on Canada IS very
well understood.