Evening star., 1911-01-08
Canadian Negotiations Limited
to Certain Articles.
FEW RAW PRODUCTS FREE
Reductions on Our Manufactures and
Dominion Staples.
FIRST CONFERENCE Is HELD
Labors to Be Rushed to Completion
In One Week-Secretary Knox
Meets With ENJOYS.

A determined effort to lay the founda-
tion for a reciprocity treaty between the
United States and Canada was initiated
yesterday afternoon, when Secretary
Knox welcomed at the State Department
the Representatives Of the Canadian gov
ernment
Mr.. Knox explained to the Canadian en-.
voys the powers conferred upon the rep.
resentatives of the Department Of State
and the purposes Of the United States
government In entering into the negotia-
tons.
There were just six members OF the
conference assembled in the snug little
office in the State Department assigned
for the accommodation OF the negodators.
In addition to Chandler p. Anderson.
Charles NJ. Pepper and John b Osborn.
Tor the United States. and w. 8. Fielding.
minister OF finance, and William Patter-
son. minister or customs, for Canada,
Secretary Knox himself gave up his Aft.
ernoon to the conference.
To Rush Through In Week.
Indications are that the negotiators viii
consume at least q weeks time. There
Is an enormous quantity Of detail to be
considered. The tariff schedules OF both
SSe"sAASo "iA pS SQOJCClSu Id = most
careful study In the light Of elaborate
figures, showing the extent OF the exports
and imports and the capital invested in
various lines OF industry likely to be af-
iected by any changes In the customs du-
ties.
will be dinicuit for the commissioners to
get through this mass Of detail within the
short space OF one week. Such is believed
70 oe their purpose. and indeed there is
urgent need of haste II anything is to be
accomplished In the way OF legislation or
the ratification OF q treaty by the pres
ent Congress.
AS is Invariably the case in the negotia-
ton OF a treaty. the partic pam s are
bound to absolute secrecy as to the de-
tails OF the negotiations 1t Is there.
fore improbable that there will be any
thing In the natu.e of an authoritative
statement available before the close OF
the negotiations beyond a mere an
nouncement as to what progress is being
made.
Limited Reciprocity.
But in the light Of what has gone be-
fore, at Ottawa, and the public declara-
tions Of Sir wilfrid Laurier, tho Cana.
dian premier, 1t may even now be pre-
dicted that any treaty that may result
from the present negotiations will not
be what may be called q general reci-
procity treaty. The most that can ba
expected at this stage of the commercisl
relations between the United States and
Canada is a convention dealing with q
certain limited number of articles.
1t will probably include the addition OF
few raw products to the free lists.
reductions Of duty on American monus
factured articles not now largely made
in Canada and reduced duties on some
Canadian Agricultural = rGralv
used in the United States. Even th,s
much will be regarded by the State DE.
partment as q satisfactory accomplish
ment, as the opening wedge. for the OK.
tension OF the idea OF reciprocity I'm sup
Elementary conventions to be drawn in
the future.
The first conference lasted about two
hours and an adjournment was then
taken until tomorrow afternoon at q
o'clock.
No Statement for Press.
Beyond the mere announcement that
the conference had met to renew the
negotiations initiated by the president
some months ago" the only formal state
ment to be had was the following:
"It was decided that no statements
would be given to the press until the re-
suits OF the negotiations should become
definite. Thereupon an authoritative
statement will be made jointly by the
representatives OF both governments ani
will be issued through the Department
OF State. Meanwhile anything purportins
to be Information as to the progress OF
the negotiations will be the mere specu-
lation Of individual writers. and the ne
gotiators will not feel called upon 10
confirm or deny any such reports
Earlier in the day the negotiators on
the part OF Canada, accompanied by Am
bassador Bryce. called upon President
Taft at the White House. Earl Grey,
Governor OF Canada, wired the President
yesterday that he would be unable to
attend the state dinner at the White
House Wednesday night. II is under
stood that the opening OF the Canadian
parliament on that day prevents his
coming to Washington.