The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-07-31
CANADIAN PREMIER MAKES
STATEMENT OF So.cALLED
RECIPROCITY ADVANTAGES.
IS NOT NEW
Says Enactment OF tho Agreement
Would Further improve Friendly Re.
lations Between Great Britain and
Canada and tho United States--Con-
servatives Are Obstructionists.

Ottawa, Ont. July 30--The opening
gun In the campaign which viii de-
termine the fate of the reciprocity
agreement between the United States
and Canada was fired today by Sir
Wilfrid Iaurier. 1t was in the form
of an open address to the Canadian
people, and In 1t Is set forth clearly
the issues involved in the present cam
paign.
The question Mt Issue Is not a new
one. Sir Wilfrid asserts, reciprocal re-
lations with the United States having
been sought by both parties for over
half q century The present conserva-
tive party he declared. is seeking to
reverse the lifelong policy of it's lead
ers of the past The enactment OF
the agreement, he predicts, would fur
ther improve the friendly relations be-
tween Great Britain. Canada and the
United States and would be an i'm
portant factor i'm bringing about a
general treaty of arbitration.
AT all times during the last 40
years. says Sir Wilfrid, ut has been
the constant effort of all political par
ties I'm Canada to make with the
United States an arrangement for the
free exchange of natural products be-
tween the two countries.
I'm 1854 Lord Elgin negotiated a
treaty for that purpose which lasted
until 1866. Ever since the termination
of that treaty all public men of any
prominence in Canada have been
unanimous In the attempt again to se-
cure free exchange of natural prod
ucts. Nor Is this TO be wondered at.
seeing that In the industries of agri-
culture, fisheries, numbering and min
ing Canada possesses advantages not
enjoyed by any other country on
earth, and that upon the markets Sc
cured for these products depends the
growth OF our manufacturing interests
and the prosperity OF all classes in the
Dominion.
within the last IL months the
president of the United States sent to
Ottawa two commissioners from
Washington for the purpose of OPEN
ing negotiations looking toward the
lowering Of the tariff barriers. These
negotiations eliminated In an agree
ment
This agreement was strenuously
resisted In the United States by vari-
GUS interests. on the ground that 1t
was all to the advantage of Canada
and to the detriment of the other
country. but the view that 1t was mu-
tually advantageous to both countries
finally prevailed In congress and the
agreement stands today as an offer
by the United States to Canada Of
that very measure Of reciprocity which
for more than 40 years has engaged
the constant effort of every leading
Canadian statesman.
Revise Lifelong Policy.
"The present conservative party In
parliament seeks absolutely to reverse
the lifelong policy of Its great leaders
of the past. Not content to debate
this proposition on it's merits. the con-
seryatiyc party has adopted a system
OF obstruction to prevent any vote be-
ing taken In parliament on the meas
ure. In this condition of things It has
seemed more n accordance with the
diginty of parliament and with the
traditions Of those British institutions
which all true Canadians value so
highly TO remit the issue to the peo-
pie themselves SO that the people may
judge between the government and the
opposition and declare whether they
have changed their minds or whether
they are still in favor of reciprocity In
natural products and whether they
viii or will not have the American
market for the promising crop soon
to be garnered in Canada"
The address declared Is no warrant
for the claim that reciprocity will lead
to annexation.