The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-23
ByG. H. GALL.

tanada IN the present tii4 S@lSiil"e N4iSiS
In trade relations with the United states.
In talking TO business men. bankers.
and editors in the Canadian West cities.
one is enabled clearly to appreciate
Canada's point of view of the tariff nego-
tiations between the two countries. They
look at the proposals OF the United States
much in the same light that an American
business man might regard the following
proposition on the part of another bust
ness man: If he should come into the
Office and say: my dear sir, l should
be glad if you could see your way clear
TO cut in half the price of the goods /
have been buying from you. Unless you
can do that. I shall be forced to double
the price of the articles you are buying
from me. WIN you kindly let me have
your answer not later than the first Of
the month? ."
II is needless to say that such business
usage would not tend to strengthen the
relations between the parties. At first,
Canada was amused at the Americans
negative proposition. next angry, and
then charitably hopeful that, perhaps
after all. the American people really
mean 10 be neither insulting or warlike.
Some of the better informed sympathize
with the uncomfortable position the ad-
ministration is in over the Aldrieh-Payne
tariff law
VIII Make No Sacrifice.
Canada wants to do business with the
United States, but she is not so depend
ent upon her neighbor as to make any
forfeiture OF national self-respect in or
der TO preserve amicable trade relations.
She believes that the United States has
more at stake than has Canada, and is
now preparing TO demonstrate that fact
clearly and forcibly. in case of failure
TO preserve the status quo or to better Il.
Keenly do they resent the American
inference that because France and Can
ada are happily related. It is Canada's
fault that such pleasant relations do not
exist between the two North American
nations. They hear the American COM
missioners saying at Ottawa:
But. my dear Mr.. Premier. you permit
France"
And then drown Sir wilfred Laurier's
diplomatic reply in a chorus Of That's
none OF yYlr blessed business Who are
YOU that you shall dictate to Canada
what her treaty making powers shall be?
Pardon our heat, but we are quite ready
and have been. 10 enter reciprocal Tela-
tons with the great American people.
The fault lies with you, if you will permit
the assertion"
Canada is wide awake 10 the present
situation. The papers in every town and
,P
Eugene n. Foss' Boston speech, and
every dispatch from Washington bearing
on the attitude Of the President Is given
front-page space.
Coincident with the Washington dis
patches come others from Berlin in which
It is stated that Germany is feverishly
preparing TO capture the rich trade of
Canada. One dispatch says: THE cessa-
ton OF the Canadian surtax on German
goods is the one topic Of the hour IN
commercial circles here. and great ex-
porting firms are eneTgetically seeking
travellers and agents with an intimate
knowledge of Canadian conditions: men
familiar with trade practices of the Do
minion, and especially of the rapidly de-
veloping communities Of the middle far
and dispatched TO the field Of operation
equipped to conduct one of the most ac-
tive business campaigns Germany ever
waged on foreign soil. They will be pre-
coded by an avalanche of catalogues and
other advertising matter, printed in the
Canadian language, Offering unpre-
cedented inducements to Canadian buyers
10 establish connections with German
houses. All branches of German trade
expect a boom in Canadian orders"
Such statements are not calculated 10
impress Canadians with a sense OF their
dependence upon the United States for
her manufactured products
Value OF American Dollars.
But Canada. and especially the Canadl-
an West. deeply appreciates what Ameri.
can men and American dollars have done
and are continuing TO do in her develop
ment AS was pointed out in a recent
letter TO The Washington Herald, there
will settle in the western provinces this
spring an army of 125o0O American farm
ers, and many millions of American dol
lars have already been subscribed for in
vestment here in 1910. These people pre-
fer 10 buy their imported goods from
their native country, and Canada does
not want TO stand in the way of their de-
sires. That they are business men. how
ever. is demonstrated by the fact that
they do not let sentimental patriotism
stand In the way Of their financial bet
teTment, and by the same token will not
be expected TO pay more for American
haf
English or German. After all the dav
has come when business is business" has
outgrown individual. community. and
national limitations.
The commerce that is at stake in Can
ada for the United States is not incon-
siderable. For the eleven months OF the
fiscal year up to the first OF this month
imports into Canada totaled $S32 S9I. $50
an increase over the corresponding pre-
ceding eleven months OF SIS, l31, 239. In the
same period exports OF domestic products
from Canada totaled SIS. 012. 262, an in
crease OF Sc. S05.6 $50. OF this latter in
crease about $17.Oo0OoO was in agricultural
exports, about s., SOC, 900 was in exports of
the forest. and about 100000 Of manu-
features The commerce between the
United States and Canada is in the ratio
of about two 10 one In exports from the
United States and exports from Canada
TO that country. respectively.
Cause of Tariff Interest.
In volume. the figures are approximate
Iy sls0O00OOo and 100000. total Of
$3.50, 600. With the present tremendous
growth Of the Canadian West this trade
should Increase correspondingly No won
der there is interest In the present diff