New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-28
APPROVAL BY CANADA
SEEMS TO Be ASSURED
Ottawa Looking to Washington
for Ratification of Reciprocity
Agreement.
LAURIER CAN FORCE VOTE
Government Leaders Consider
Opposition Arguments Weak
Some Dissatisfied In
terests Heard From.

terests Heard From.
Ottawa, Ont. Jan. 27.-Conhdent that tho
reciprocity agreement between Canada ana
! the United States will receive the necessary
| legislative Endorsement from the Canadian
/ Parliament representative men here are
| now chiefly interested in the attitude CON
| gress will take. There is a fear in some
quarters that the measure may cause
| general tariff discussion at Washington
/ resulting in a delay that will he fatal 70
! the agreement. The commissioners ana the
highest government officials do not snare
/ this fear however.
BY mutual agreement between the Gov
/ eminent and the Opposition. debate on the
| question has been nut off for a week. This
step undoubtedly has been taken 10 permit
the machinery of legislation at Washington
to get in motion Following Sir Wifrid
| Laurier's reply TO the criticisms or the
| Opposition and brief debate. the question
can be brought to a formal vote at the
will of the Premier
Government leaders regard the attitude or
the Opposition as extremely weak, and one
which cannot possibly rally any of the LID
| eral forces to their standard. Their asser-
| ton that the ratification of the agreement
! is a step toward political union with the
/ United states and away from imperialism
/ is dismissed as untenable. That LOYALTY TO
the mother country is above commercial
ism is their answer.
! The faith of the governments supporters
! that Congress will ratify the agreement Is
based on the fact that the main consdera-
ton of the neGotiators from both countries
was to frame an agreement which could be
put through both Congress and Parlia-
ment. II is understood that the Canadian
negotiators were always willing 10 accept
the opinion of the American trade commits
sioners as TO what Congress could be IN
duced to accept and what would probably
prove stumbling block in the way OF final
ratification
Ratification Expected Before March 4.
The American commissioners are said 20
have adopted the same attitude as to what
Parliament would accept or decline. and
the agreement is the result Of careful CON
ferences conducted on this basis. The
Canadian government believes Congress
will give the agreement legislative sane
ton before March 4.
IT lIllS II llbl hNI" there VIII w hiShI
pointment. but not discoura cement. In
Canada, as there is a conviction here that
the agitation in the United states over the
high cost Of living and the important bear
ing Of the agreement on that question are
bound TO keen it in the forefront.
Some Dissatisfied Interests.
Some dissatisfied Canadian interests are
Fr~- o1I
men Of Canada do not relish mutual free
trade in steel rods. The saltmakers de-
clare that the ratification Of the agreement
will close their works The market gar
deners are dissatisfied with the prospect
of competing with the truck farmers Of
the Southern states The agricultural i'm
plement makers do not like the reductions
which the agreement makes in the protec-
ton they enjoy
There are a few representative men who
believe that the commerce of Canada.
which now moves east and west will he
diverted and in a few years the bulk II il
will be moving north and south. with
disastrous effect on Canada as now con-
sttuted 1t Is predicted that this diversion
of trade will be severely felt by the chief
Canadian export ports-Montreal and St
John Ii is also held that Canada is likely
to disintegIate as the result Of this shifting
Of the direction of commerce. Men who
hold these views are greatly in the minor
ity The great majority believe that the
ratification of the agreement will produce
material prosperity and do no damage
whatever.
Views Of Leaders in Parliament.
The following brief opinions were given
by leading members Of Parliament. on
both sides tonight:
W. +. Todd Liberal. New Brunswick-"It
will be great boon for agriculture
throughout Canada and for the fishermen
OF the Maritime Provinces"
II z. Emmerson Liberal, New Bruins
wick-'It is the greatest achievement ever
accomplished on behalf of Canadian trade"
Thomas MacNut Liberal, Saskatchewan
1t will be a good thing for the farmers
Of the West. l would have liked greater
reductions on agricultural. implements,
however"
F. f. Pardee chief Liberal whip-"Both
the farmers and the manufacturers Of
Canada get everything that could be de-
sired"
regard the effects as liable to divert the
movement of commerce in Canada, which
is now flowing east and west, and change
It's course to north and south. The agree
ment is liable 10 cause great uncertainty.
and the United States can at any time.
without notice, withdraw any concessions
given The agreement I regard as a step
toward disintegration, rather than toward
closer union with the mother country"
Ernest Lapoint. Liberal. Quebec-"The
best thing that has ever happened for the
farmers Of quebec"
Martin Burrel. Conservative British Co
Iumha-"It Is the culellest and most un-
justfable blow 10 the fruit industry Of
British Columbia and OF the whole Of
Canada that ever was struck. The present
duty is low. it's removal will allow British
Columbian markets TO be flooded from
Washington and Oregon"
T. f. Nesbit, Liberal Ontario--"Who
would have expected that II would have
been 50 much, and all Of it for the best
The Ontario farmers will benefit hand
sCmely'
Toronto. Jan 27.-Editorials in to-day's
Toronto papers show divergence Of opinion
regarding the reciprocity agreement The
Conservative (opposition) Journals main
tain that if enacted the agreement will he
a death blow 10 a British Canadian prefer
entail tarin arrangement. while the Liberal
government organs hold that the goods