The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-06-09

program, under the auspices of the
Western Economic Society, extending
the discussion of the subject through
the whole day and concluding tonight
with what is expected to be one of
the most important speeches made dur
ing his term of office by President
Taft.
Chicago, ILL.,, June 3.-"The Inter-
national Aspects of Reciprocity" was
the subject of an address by Prof. H.
Parker Willis of Washington, D. c.,
at the Western Economic conference
on Canadian reciprocity today. Pro-
fessor Willis said in part:
President Taft in his message to
congress of January 26, 1911, has stat
ed with the utmost cogency the gen.
eral reasons which call for closer COM
mercial union between the United
States and Canada. His exposition of
the broad and statesmanlike consid-
erations which should control the ac-
ton of the two countries in this matter
leaves little to be added.
ut seems to me that the advantages
to both countries certain to flow from
the operation of the agreement are of
so evident and considerable nature
as to make the desirability of its ad-
option unmistakeable. think it should
be passed by the senate without fur
ther delay, and that when it has been
so adopted it will constitute one of the
most creditable acts of the present ad-
lministration.
II believe in the agreement not be-
cause it is perfect, or even satisfac-
tory in its scope, but because it is a
step toward the establishment of those
equitable trade relations with Canada
which can be reached only by very
marked reduction if not actual aboli-
ton of tariff restrictions upon the mu-
tual interchange of commodities.
There is another aspect of the Can
adian agreement, however, in which
lit constitutes an important innovation
upon past and present commercial
policy, and which suggests the intro
duction of new attitude toward for
eign countries more in harmony with
existing conditions than the selfish
and exclusive international position
heretofore accepted by the United
States. The reciprocity agreement, if
adopted, will without doubt be an i'm
portant step toward the revision of
our system of international tariff
treaties.
THAT the United States would, with
out struggle, surrender its tradition
al Interpretation of the most favored
nation clause in our treaties is hardly
to be expected, The question would
therefore, remain whether the United
States could refuse to open negotia-
tions for the extension of reciprocity
arrangements to other countries which
might demand such arrangements
Should it so refuse, it must expect to
see the present minimum rate basis
granted by foreign countries with
drawn. In fact it may be expected that
almost Immediately upon the compile
tion of the Canadian agreement Ger
many will withdraw from us certain
of the minimum rates now enjoyed by
the United States. Germany it is we'll
understood, has already made in
quiries regarding the probable answer
of the United States to a request for
the extension of the lower rates of
the Canadian agreement to her and is
apparently prepared to carry her point
to the logical extreme. The question
of England's position has already been
raised in parliament and will also be
pushed as opportunity favors. Such
demands could not be refused nor
could be expect to secure much atten-
ton for the former threat we shall
apply our maximum tariff rates to
countries which grant special prefer
ence to Others"