Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-17
NOT UNITED.
The Canadian Parliament
Divided on Reciprocity.
It's Friends Depending on Favor
able Action at Washington
In Order to Whip into Line the
Many Now Opposing II.

| Ottawa, Ont, April ia favorable
vote on the reciprocity agreement with
the United States is looked for by
members of the Dominion government
not long after Parliament re-assem-
bles Wednesday. The rapid progress
being rnade at Washington and the
prediction that the agreement will be
| before the American Senate by next
| Thursday, have been noted here with
satisfaction by the governments sup
pcrters. Settlement of the reciprocity
issue in Canada they believe now de-
pends primarily upon action at Wash
| ington. Any assurance that Congress
will ratifv the agreement may be
| coupled, they say. with the assurance
| that the Canadian Parliament will do
| its part as soon as the passage of the
agreement on the other side of the line
| is certain.
The Canadian government. backed
by majority of more than 40 in the
House. is pledged and anxious to put
the agreement through as soon as the
Conservative opposition permits vote.
Ratification then by the Senate would
be merely a matter of form since the
government supporters in that body
outnumber the Conservatives three to
one.
But until the agreement is ratified
by both American Congressional
branches, the fight against it in the
Canadian House will be continued by
Mr.. Borden's adherents along the lines
followed during the past six weeks.
Bat their stubborn resistance admit
tedly is being kept up only in hope
that the situation may be saved, from
the Conservative point of view, by
second failure of the Senate at Wash
ingtcn to pass the American part of
the pact
There has been a decided moderation
during the last few weeks of the fierce
opposition at first waged against the
agreement. The resentment aroused
by ill-advised annexation talk has
practically disappeared and members
of the government assert that some of
the Conservative representatives of
rural constituencies have been under
strong pressure because of their al
legged alarmist attitude on the subject.
In large centers like Montreal and
Toronto. where the protectionist ele-
ment is strongest, the fight against the
agreement is being continued by Con-
servative press and speakers But it is
admitted by some Conservative MEM
bers that their attacks upon the pro-
posed agreement in the prairie prov
inces and in the non-urban parts of
eastern Canada. will not prove to have
won them votes. Addressing his con-
G rrl.
day for instance, W. II. Sharpe.
prominent Conservative member of the
House, admitted that he knew all he
had to do to make himself safe in his
seat was to Vote for reciprocity.
Other Western Conservatives are in
practically the same position but have
stated they will continue to abide by
the decision of their party caucus and
tight the agreement to the end There
may be two or three members of the
opposition representing rural constitu-
entS who will deem discretion the bet
ter part of valor and. if forced to vote,
break from their party and go with
the Liberal ranks for reciprocity. These
will be counter balanced by the action
of three Liberals, who already have
declared against the agreement. Aside
from the defections the issue is still a
straight party one so far as the House
is concerned
There is method by Whicn the gov
ernnent can force closure of debate
of the Conservative leaders, after con-
ference of the Easter discussions. The
prevailing opinion. however. appears
to be that if Washington passes fav-
ora hly 10
will not persist in whatever intention
it may have had to talk the meas
ure of death or delay its ratificati ton
by debate until the middle of May.
VIXEN Sir Wilfrid I.aurer, prime min
lister, plans to sail for London to at
tend the colonial conference and the
coronation.
The debate will be resumed when
Parliament re-assembles next Wed
nesday. A Liberal caucus will be held
Thursday and so certain ara the mem
bers of the government that the reci-
procity proposal now has the endorse
ment of the great majority of Canadi-
ans that the Liberal members will be
urged to spend little further time in
defending their position in the House.
The burden of continuing the debate
and thus preventing vote will be
left to the opposition members.
The prime minister is hopeful that
is ratification has not been actually
completed by both countries by May
II, there will be such certainty of it's
Accomplishment within a few DAYS as
to warrant his departure on that Gate
for London.