Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-31
ENDS TARIFF PACTS
Final Proclamation Is Issued
by President Taft.
DRAW CLOSER TO CANADA
Time Ripe for Conference to Better
Trade Conditions.
DOMINION WELL PLEASED
Thinks It Got Better of Negotia-
lions, But London Has An
other Opinion.

other opinion.
Following the proclamation of a COM
| plete tariff agreement with Canada, 1t
was announced that President Taft had
| invited the Dominion government OFF,
Gals to conference looking to closer
| trade relations between the two coun-
| tries and to q general readjustment Of
duties.
The Presidents invitation to Canada
| is included in an exchange of notes
! between Secretary of State Knox and
| the Dominion government. The note
expresses satisfaction at the happy ter
mination of the tariff negotiations, and
advances the hope that the way had
been opened for an early settlement of
all the differences between the two gov
ernments. including the troublesome
question Of the water boundary line.
For Closer Trade Relations.
The note then expresses the belief from
| the American point of view that the time
is ripe for a conference looking to the
betterment Of trade relations between the
+ two countries. In discussing the matter
i
say that the proposed conference is the
forerunner of reciprocity. What he hopes
| is that the conference may result in a
complete reimbursement of the tariff rates
between the two countries without either
aban doning it's national economic policy
The proclamations of the President
granting the minimum rates of tariff un-
der the Payne-Aldrich act to Canada.
Australia and number of countries less
important commercially. completes the
extension of this country's minimum rates
to the whole world. About 80 nations
and dependencies are included in the list.
The work involved in determining
whether or not any of the nations In
Guided in this long list were discriminate
ing in their tariffs against the products
Of the United States has occupied the at
tention of the tariff officers of the gov
eminent almost continuously since the
passage of the tariff act last August
Schedules Critically Examined.
The tariff schedules of each one of
these nations have been critically exam
ined by tariff experts, and where doubt
has existed the services of diplomatic and
consular officers OF the United States
were requisitioned.
Although no official statement is avail
able at this time as to the net results
of the negotiations with all OF the ma
"
products are concerned, there is reason
to believe that the government officials
regard them as eminently satisfactory.
semi official statement is made, how
ever that from this time forward from
20 to so per cent of the products of the
United States will be admitted to foreign
countries free of duty and that of the
American products which pay duty In
foreign countries SO per cent will be en-
titled to the minimum foreign rates: a
large proportion of these products hith-
erto have paid the maximum rates.
Announced at Ottawa.
OTTAWA, Ontario, March 31.-The Do
minion parliament and the people OF
Canada received their first official an
nouncement of the settlement OF the
tariff controversy with the United States
and the granting by the latter of the
minimum tariff rates through a state
ment made in the house yesterday after
noon by Finance Minister Fielding 1t
was evident from the trend of Mr.. Field
ing's remarks that the process of read
justing tariff relations between the two
countries will not end with the agree
ment just reached.
Mr.. Fielding arrived here from Wash
inston at 1 o'clock and at once conferred
with Premier Laurier and other members
of the cabinet, after which he proceeded
to the House. He was greeted with ap-
plause when at 40 he began to speak.
Mr.. Fielding reviewed in great detail the
negotiations between the two govern
ments The first overtures for read
iustment of tariff relations came from
Washington, he said When deadlock
seemed inevitable the government took
firm stand and would not have shrunk
from a tariff war. although 1t preferred
to avoid hostilities of that sort.
No pledge was given by Canada that
the export of pulp wood would not be
prohibited. Mr.. Fielding declared.
Not Admitted as Discrimination.
In the negotiations Canada never had
admitted that the Franco-Canada treaty
amounted to a discrimination against the
United States, and BY his proclamation,
issued at Washington today. President
Taft tacitly admitted this to be a fact
HAS President Taft undertaken to pro-
mote in Congress lower tariff rates for
CANADA" Mr.. Fielding was asked.
practically. yes he replied.
Continuing. Mr. Fielding said that it
had been claimed in some quarters that
President Taft had been bluffing and that
he would not have dared to impose the
ma ximum tariff rates against Canada,
even If the Dominion had failed to make
any concessions whatever. This was a
all Of his friendly regard for Canada.
President Taft might have been forced
into imposing the maximum against
Canada.
"If we had stood pat 1t is possible we
might have In some way obtained the
minimum American tariff" said Mr..
Fielding. THAT perhaps would have
been q great triumph for Canada To
| hurl defiance at the United States when
| all the nations of Europe are accepting
| their terms might have been heroic, but
| some victories are too dearly bought
Considered American Victory.
LONDON. March Sl.-The Morning Post,
| in an editorial on the tariff agreement
between Canada and the. United States.
contends that by flourishing a big re-
yolver,' in the shape Of q surtax. which
it could not have imposed without hurt
ing its own interests. the United States
| has bluffed Canada into giving something
| for nothing. but the paper adds:
1T is to the interest of American diplo-
macy, now that its battle is won, to be-
/ little its own victory, SO as to smooth the
path for further conQuests later on"
JET SET AWNING AFIRE.
| ~ - =