, 1911-02-15

Mr.. Lyttelton, referring to Mr.. Asquith's
reply to Nh. MacNaster the previous day,
said Canada accepted reciprocity with the
United States only after England had re-
fused reciprocity preference, the Liberal pol
icy had thus hasteued reciprocity with the
United States by several years. Mr.. Asquith
answered that successive elections showed
his policy was popular, and free trade Eng
land entered foreign markets as easily and
as favOurably as protectionIst nations. Japan
was no exception, us tariff reformers will dis
cover before the present negotiations are
concluded. England rejected the preferen-
tial Arrangement because it was impossible
to tax British supplies without increasing
their cost, colonial preference was impossible
without friction, inequality and bitterness,
and the United Kingdom was not affected
by Canadian reciprocity with the United
States, because it does not include articles
important in British trade. MIR. Austen
Chamberlain, he continued, had misquoted
Sir WiIfrid Laurier, which was illustrative
Of the slopplness Of the Tariff Reform agi-
tation from the beginning, and he was thank
ful that the popular COMMON sense had saved
the United Kingdom from one of the great
est and most disastrous Of modern political
impostures, and the obsequies OF imperial
preference were now being happily celebrat-
ed.
Mr.. Balfour said every colonial Premier
approved what Mr.. Asquith called an I'M
posture because the Government objected
to treating the colonies better than other
nations, and Unionists will continue the
struggle, confident of ultimate victory.
Mr.. Manchester declared that politics un-
derIie the commercial agreement, which is
the first wedge in the cleavage Of the En-
pire.
Mr.. Hamar Greenwood said TINT what
ever strengthened Canada commercially
strengthened the Empire politically.
Mr.. Austen Chamberlain moved an ox-
preston Of regret ut the Governments re-
fusal to modify the fiscal system, which i'm
perils British of benefit from
preference granted by the overseas Do
minions, lefers u closer imperial union
and d|eprives the country Of the most
effective method of causing foreign coun-
tries to grant fair treatment to British man
ufacturers. The motion was lost by 324
against 222, the Nationalists supporting the
Government, which is unusual upon fiscal
divisions, also the Labourites.
Mr.. Chamberlaiu's speech was his abicst
and the debate was spectacular and vital, the
result being due to the failure Of the Union,
lists to get together.
Ottawa, Feb. lIth-ln the House OF Com
mons MIR. Monk moved to postpone the reel
procity agreement to enable members to
consult their constituents Mi. Fielding
replied, the subject was forty years old, and
postponement would be bad faith, the Jour
nalistic shrieks in denunciation of the propo-
sal were an insult to the intelligence of Ca
nadians. The Opposition were looking to
Washington for help, but regardless of the
action Of the United States senate, Parlia-
ment will keep the faith pledged by the ne
gotiations. Mr.. Borden, the leader Of the
Opposition, spoke for three hours. The treaty,
he said, nulIiies the efforts of Canada for
quater of a century to promote commerce
by fostering its easterly aud westerly move
ment. Mr.. Paterson scoffed at Mr.. Borden's
fears. Thirty million bushels of Canadian
wheat were, he said, now marketed via Amer
lean railways with benefit to the Dominion.
Why discourage American railways en-
tering Canada and transporting with ben
Cit to the sellers. The motion for postpone
ment was negatived by a minority of twenty
five.
At midnight Mr.. Foster asked for an OPP
portuuity to continue the debate another
day, to which Sir Wilfrid Laurier assented,
probably Tuesday.