Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-03-31
Mr. Fielding arrived here from wash

ington at one o'clock and at once con-
ferred with Premier Laurier and other
members Of the cabinet after which he
proceeded to the House. lie was greeted
with applause when at 4:SO he began to
speak. Mr.. Fielding reviewed in great
detail the negotiations between the two
governments. The first overtures for a
readjustment OF tariff relations came
from Washington, he said. When a
deadlock seemed Inevitable, the govern
ment took firm stand and would not
have shrank from y tariff war. although
1t preferred to avoid hostlities of tina,
sort.
No pledge was given by Canada that the
export of pulpwood would not be prohibit.
ed, Mr.. Fielding declared.
DISCRIMINATION DENIED.
In the negotiations, Canada never had
admitted that the Franco-Canadian treaty
amounted to discrimination against the
United States and by his proclamation.
issued at Washington to-day, President
Taft tacitly admitted this to he fact.
Has President Taft undertaken to
promote in Congress lower tarin 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
maximum tariff rates against Canada,
even IL the Dominion had failed to make
any concessions whatever This was
mistaken idea, Mr.. Fielding said. With
ali of his friendly regard for Canada,
,,,tu
into imposing the maximum against
Canada.
BEST TO PRESERVE FRIENDSHIP.
III we stood pat 1t is possible we might
have In some way obtained the minimum
American tariff" said Mr. Fielding. THAT
perhaps would have been a 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. If we had thus
achieved triumph for the moment 1t
might be a reason for self congratulation,
but 1t would not have improved the
future relations between these two coun
tries. If, therefore, we could avoid a
tariff war by granting some. and from
cessions. it was far better in the interest
of Canada for the presnt and the future
that we should make the concessions
rather than to triumph over the United
States on terms which would have left
soreness and i'll feeling and created
friction in future negotiations.
Fully believing In the professions of
President Taft that he desired to estab-
lsh the best Of relations with Canada,
we sought an honorable compromise. The
extremists on both sides will claim that
Canada and that the United States has
the best of the bargain. Both will be
wrong. 1t was a good thing to avoid the
maximum. it was a good thing to give
concessions to the United States and
to avoid quarrel with hat country"
STATEMENT BY LAURIER
Sir Wilfrid Laurier said: II have rea-
sons to believe that there are large
number of people in the United States
who would be sorry to see tariff war
with Canada. In fact, so strong is that
feeling that for the first time in history
an American amba assador has come to
Canada to negotiate for commercial
peace | also recognize the fact that
there is in the United States a high pro-
tectionist group which is willing and anx-
ous to push the President into a tariff
war with Canada The Canadian gov
renment did not feel that il should give
its aid to further the ends of this group
by making impossible conditions for the
President.
I'VE shall ever do all we can con-
tnued Sir Wilfrid. while preserving the