New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-09

, favorable terms under which the Canadian
market was entered, but by the favora-
Bile position TO secure the use OF the vast
| natural resources OF the Dominion He
blamed the British government for having
ignored the Canadian proffers Of prefer
ence. and closed by quoting Sir Wilfrid
Laurier as having said year ago that IL
tariff reform government should come
into power there would be little prospect
OF any large measure OF reciprocity with
the United States.
Mr.. Buxton Defends Reciprocity.
sidney Charles Buxton, president OF the
Board OF Trade, replied that the govern
ment was quite unrepentant, and immov-
able in ITS view that tariff reform would
| injure both this country and the empire.
He said that the statement of Mr.. Fielding
was q complete answer to almost all the
serious arguments Mr. Chamberlain had
used He added that the government did
not share the approximations of the Union
lists In regard to the agreement.
The agreement Of Canada" Mr.. Buxton
continued, lis very delicate matter to
discuss without the possibility Of being
misunderstood on the other side OF the At
lantic, which is the last thing TO be de-
sired Canada has a free hand in this
matter and the fact that they have come
70 terms with the United States is a mat
fer on which they may congratulate them
selves"
Mr. Buxton said that the agreement was
q good object lesson. showing the evils
and dangers Of the fiscal relations advo-
Gated by the Unionists. and pointed out
that II the policy Of imperial preference
had been in force Canada would have had
10 consult Great Britain In reference
thereto, with the result that the local In
teres's OF the Dominion would have been
arrayed against Great Britain Such sit
uation might have brought the chain OF
empire almost TO the swapping point. Mr.
Buxton believed that the pessimism Of the
Cnionists was overdone. and declared that
even IL the proposed agreement had been
In force in 1910. only IL per cent Of Great
Britan's exports to Canada would have
been affected He argued that the more
Canadian wheat went into the United
States. the more would the United States
send 20 Great Britain, with the result that
prices would decline.
Lewis HdrCOurt, secretary OF state LOT
the Colonies. said there was no reason to
believe that Canada desired 10 submit a
question concerning her internal affairs to
the Judgment Of other dominions. He I'M
derstood, however the impossibilty or I'M
mediate completion Of the legislation nec-
essary TO make the reciprocity agreement
effective. and accordingly there would De
annie time FOR consideration.
The Secretary's expression was in reply
to a request that the Colonial Office sug-
gest that the Canadian government post
pone ratification Of the agreement untl
the imperial conference had been held
Premier Asuuith, in printed reply 10 q
question In the House Of Commons says
the reciprocity agreement was not submit
ted 10 the British government. whose assent
was not required for changes IN the cana
dian tariff. but that Ambassador Bryce in
formed the Foreign Office that it had been
signed. II IS not proposed, Mr.. Asquith con-
t:nues, to lay the papers on the subject be-
fore Parliament, as the correspondence Is
still incomplete
II is expected that the debate on the ad-
dress will close on Tuesday next ana that
the veto bill be introduced on February 10.
In long letter advocating imperial pref
erence. Joseph Chamberlain expresses re-
greet that Canada, did not wait Tor the
inoperial conference before making a
reciprocity agreement with the Cnlted
States