The Mena weekly star., 1911-04-06
PRESIDENT CALLS ATTENTION OF
CONGRESS TO CANADIAN
RECIPROCITY.
IS ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL
Would Increase Trade on Both Sides
Of Line--Productive Power Of Can.
ada Would Be lncreased--outIet for
Surplus American Products.


Washington, April 5.-The message
OF President Tafe to the Senate and
House of Representatives follows:
To the Senate and Hsuse OF Repre-.
sentatives:
| transmitted to the Sixty-first Con
gress ON January six last the text of
the reciprocity trade agreement which
had been negotiated under my direc-
tior by the secretary OF state with the
representatives of the Dominion OF
Canada That agreement was the
consummation OF earnest efforts ex-
tending over period Of nearly a
year, on the part Of both governments
to effect trade arrangement which
supplementing as 1t did the amicabl
settlement of various questions OF a
diplomatic and political character that
had been reached would mutually pro-
mote commerce and would strengthen
the friendly relations now existing.
The agreement in its intent ana
terms was purely economic and com
mercial. While the general subject
was under discussion by the commits.
sions | felt assured that the senti-
ment of the people Of the United
States was such that they would vel
come measure which would result
in the increase OF trade on both sides
of the boundary line, which would
open up the reserve productive re-
sources of Canada to the great mass
of our own consumers on advantage
Gus conditions and at the same time
offer a broader outlet for the excess
products OF our farms and many OF
our industries. Details regarding a
negotiation of this kind necessarily
could not be made public while the
conferences we're pending. However,
the full text OF tho agreement with the
accompanying correspondence and
data explaining both its purpose and
its scope became known to the people.
Throughout the message transmittedto
Congress it was imemdiately apparent
that the ripened fruits OF the careful
iabors Of the commissioners met with
widespread approval This approval
has been strengthened by further con.
sideration of the terms Of the agree
ment in all their particulars. The vol
ume of support wkich has developed
shows that its broadly national scope
is appreciated and is responsive to the
popular will.
The House of Representatives of
the Sixty-first Congress after the fun
text of the agreement with all the
details in regard to the different pro.
visions had been before it, as they
were before the American people,
passed a bill confirming the agree,
ment as negotiated and as transmit.
ted to Congress. This measure failed
of action in the senate In my trans.
mitted message OF the 26th of Janu-
ary, fully set forth the character
of the agreement and emphasized its
appropriateness and necessity as q
response to the mutual needs OF the
people Of the two countries, as we'll
as its common advantages. now
lay that message and the reciprocal
trade agreement, as integrally a part
of the present message, before the
Sixty-second Congress and again in
vite earnest attention to the consider
ations therein expressed
am constrained In difference ci
popular sentiment and with a realiz
ing sense of my duty to the great
masses of our people whose welfare
is involved. to urge upon your con
sideration early action ON this agree
ment. In concluding the negotiations
the representatives of the two coun
tries bound themselves to use theil
utmost efforts TO bring about the
tariff changes provided for in the
agreement by concurrent Legislation
at Washington and Ottawa have fel,
it my duty, therefore, not to acquiesce
in relegation of action until the open
ing of the Congress In December, bui
to use my constitutional prerogativs
and convoke the eixty-second Con
gress in extra session in order that
there will be NJ break of continuity
in considering and acting upon thi'
most important subject.