New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-09
CANADA WOULD QUELL
ALARM IN ENGLAND
Mr.. Fielding Denies That Reel
pretty Will Injure Impe-
rial Preference.
MESSAGE TO STRATHC0NA
Austen Chamberlain Attacks the
Agreement in House of Com
mons, and Mr.. Buxton
Defends It.

Ottawa. Ont Feb. S.--William : Field
ing, Canadian Minister of Finance. took
steps to-day to correct what are regarded
here as erroneous impressions in the minds
of the public men and on the part of lead
ing newspapers of Great Britain in regard
TO the Canadan-American reciprocity
agreement. The Canadian government
viewed with some alarm the idea expressed
by a portion Of the British press that the
agreement would have detrimental erect
on trade between Canada and the mother
country and would adversely affect the
preference granted TO Great Britain. Mr..
Fielding has taken the question up with
Lord strathcona, Canadian High Commits
sioner in London and on behalf of the
Canadian government has sent the follow
ing cable dispatch;
Canada is seeking markets everywhere
for her surplus products, substituting steam,
ship lines and sending out commercial
agents. Would IL not be ridiculous In the
pursuit Of such policy to refuse TO ayali
herself Of the markets of the great nation
The expressed fear that II will seriously
affect imports from Great Britain is ground
less. The greater part Of the agreement
deals with natural products which Great
Britain does not send us The range o.
manufactures affected is comparatively
small and In most cases the reductions are
small
It appears to be assumed in some quar-
ters that the tariff rates agreed upon dis,
eliminate in favor of the United States and
against Great Britain. There is no founda-
ton for this.
In every case Great Britain will still have
the same rate or a lower one. Canada
right TO deal with the British preference as
she peases remains untouched by the agree
ment. The adoption of the agreement VIII
uvnha h1x~ load n further revision or
the Canadian tariff. in which the Canadlan
Parliament will be entirely free TO fix the
British preferential tariff at any rates that
may De deemed proper
London, Feb. s-The official Opposition's
amendment TO the address in reply TO the
speech from the throne. urging fiscal re-
form with special reference TO the proposed
American Canadian reciprocity agreement
was moved by J. Austen Chamberlain he
fore a crowded house to-day.
The messa.e from W. S Fielding. Cana
dian Minister Of Finance defending the ar
rangement. was published this morning and
took some wind out of the sails of the
Unionists' craft. However, Should the Ma
tionalists abstain from voting, as is posi-
BILE. the governments margin of victory
probably would be small The debate will
probably last two days
Mr.. Chamberlsin's Argument
Mr. Chamberlain ct the outset spoke Of
the delcacy Of his task, which involved
the policy Of one Of the great dominions
He deprecated any suggestion that he was
criticising the action of either Canada or
the United States in regard to the agree
me- rf xf-bf wa mo
most prominent in the minds of all. He
said he was proud 10 rank himself as a dis
ciple Of the Canadian ministers, 10 whose
great policy of imperial preference the
Unionists were committed Mr.. Chamber
lain declared that the agreement was a
conclusive instance of the value Of a tariff
in commercial negotiations. He asserted
that the agreement removed Canada from
the imperial orbit and drew her into the
vortex of continental politics and the inter-
ests of the United States One immediate
result would be that 1000 in England would
cost more. Was the government, he asked,
taking steps to secure for British manu-
facturers the same right of entry 10 the
markets Of the United states which the
Canadian ministers were securing for Cana
dian goods?
Mr. Chamberlain added that the agree
ment would have far reaching effects. not
only on the Dominion, but on the whole
empire, and particularly on the relations
which had prevailed between Canada and
the United Kingdom
Mr. Chamberlain predicted that the re-
suit of divertng Canadian wheat TO the
United States would be the cultivation Of
other crops in that country and con-
stantly increasing drain upon Canadian
supplies heretofore sent to England. The
railroads that carried wheat to the South
naturally would carry back American man.
ufactures, 10 the detriment Of British pro-
ducers An enormous stimulus would be
given 10 stock raising in the United States
further placing the producers Of meat in
this country at the mercy Of American
trusts, while the manufacturing and pro-
ducing power Of the United States would
he immensely enhanced, not only by the