The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-31

 M &reement, the premier pre- 2, JsdNrther improve the friendly lrelS .4ons existing between Great Britain, Canada and the United States and would he an important factor in bringing about Ia general treaty of arbitration
 "At all times during the last 40 years" Isays Sir Wilfrld, 'it has been the con lstant effort of all political parties in Eanada. to make with the United States Any arrangements for the free exchange of natural products between the two countries
 Tn 1854 Lord Elsin, on behalf of Can eda and the maritime provinces, nego- fiated with the United States treaty for that purpose which lasted until 1866 and (which within the memory of many still Hlive, was of the greatest advantage.
 Ever since the termination of that treaty all public men of any prominence fn Canada, whatever their differences on other questions, have been unanimous in the attempt to secure again the free ex- change of natural products.
 Nor Is this to be wondered at. seeing fhat in the industries of agriculture, Numbering and mining. Canada possesses advantages not enjoyed by any other country on earth. and that upon the markets secured for the products of these ,ssinoustries depends ti,e growth of our. manufacturing and commercial interests land the prosperity of all classes in the ldonnlnion
 "The latest attempt of the conserva- ltive party to that end was made by Premier Sir John A. Macdonald, who sdissolved parliament in 1891 for the purpose of submitting to the elector- Ate of Canada the expediency of again Approaching American authorities for . renewal of the treaty of 1854.
 Received No Response
 After the present government took Ipffice it renewed in vain this offer to fhe United States, but meeting with no response, it declared that no further fovertures of this nature would be made by Canada.
 within the last 12 months the President of the United States sent to Ottawa two commissioners from Wash Pngton for the purpose of opening ne- Eotiations looking toward the lower png of the tariff barriers which have hitherto stood in the way of freer ex- lchange of commodities between Canada and the United States. These negotia- Mlons culminated in an agreement
 This agreement was strenuously re Eisted in the United States by various Interests on the alleged grounds that lt was all to the advantage of Can ada and to the detriment of the other r country, but the view that it was mu- llually advantageous to both countries nnally prevailed in Congress and the agreement stands today as an offer by fhe United States to Canada of that very measure of reciprocity which for more than 40 years has engaged the earnest and constant efforts of every Beading Canadian statesman
 Ihe present conservative party in parliament seekS absolutely to revise Ithe lifelong policy of its great lead Eers of the past, declaring that 1t will oppose to. the bitter end the very prin- Ieiple enunciated by both Sir John A. lMacDonald and Sir4 John Thompson pm the last election, Tn addresses upon (which each of these statesmen ever ap- pealed to the Canadian people.
 Not content to dfbate this proposition iupon it's merits, the conservative party i1n the house of commons has adopted a system of organized and avowed ob- lstruction to prevent any vote being taken an parliament by which the opinion of Iyour representatives there could be ex- pressed. &
 Parliament Dissolved
 'To overcome that obstruction, after a session which has already lasted eight months would not only mean the con- Animation of an 'unseemly spectacle pre- Isented by the opposition in the house of Icommons since the resumption of its sit- Itings on the 18th Instant, but would also lmean weeks and months of wasted time land perhaps in the end the loss for this season to the Canadian producer of the free American market. &
 Tn this condition of things, it has seemed more in accordance with the dig ifxy of ~1i vyitl, bo z those British institutions which all true |Canadians value so highly and which the lpresent opposition degrade with such a flight heart with the best interests of the country as whole, to remit the isue to the people themselves, so that the people may judge between the gov- ernment and the opposition.
 This agreement, by opening new ave- nues of trade hitherto closed, would fur ther improve the friendly relations which now so happily exist between this coun- try and the mother country .on the one hand. and the American republic on the other. and which, 1t Is hoped, may at no distant day eventuate into general treaty of arbitration, the effect of which would be tQ remove forever all possibilities of war between the great empire of which we are proud to form part and the great nation which we are proud to have as a neighbor." raslA1a
 The address declares that there is no warrant for the claim that reciprocity will lead to annexation and states that Canada will continue the policy of Brit ish preference.
 . Borden Speaks
 ifR. l.. Borden, opposition leader in . statement issued tonight declares that the government apparently decided upon the dissolution of parliament in a hurry, or even in a panic. as no intimation was l efv hv o 10 a n e are accustomed to spend the weekend