Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-29
AMERICANA ANADIAN RECIPROCITY

The negotiations between the United
States and the Dominion OF Canada which
were concluded on the .1st
Varying instant have been hailed
variously with approval and
VPiAloAs. disapproval In both coun-
tries. The Morning Chronicle OF Halifax
declares with moro feeling than rhetorical
''The arrangement Is
triumph of international arbitration and
diplomacy. and puts the capstone on the
edif1ce Of concord and fellowship that has
been an open sore for ninety-three years.
since the treaty OF 1913 was concluded"
The treaty OF 1918. it is interesting to
recall, was executed on the part OF the
United States by Albert Galiatin. Ameri-
can minister. 1t was a convention re-
specting the claim Of the United States to
take. dry and cure fish on certain coasts
Of Newfoundland. The United States
also claimed under article one OF the
treaty Of Client Naturalization for all
property taken and carried away during
the war. including slaves. The Brit
ish government objected that the TAX
ing OF slaves was not covered by the
treaty OF Client, and this question. by
mutual consent, was referred to a friendly
power. The Emperor OF Russia. as the
arbitrator, decided that the United States
claim was rust, and for such taking was
entitled to just indemnif1cation. The
award dated st. Petersburg. April %.
1922. was signed by the celebrated Nessel-
rode. secretary OF state under Aiexan-
der I.
The commission which has just con-
cluded its labors is the elimination OF the
objections OF the United States to the
IL q
which, according to The Hague award of
last year, should be referred to special
commission.
The United States. in brief. objected to
the regulations prohibiting the use OF
purse seines Sunday fishing. Canadian II
ing vessels by Canadian officials me
contention OF the United States was tnat
they were not bound by any imperial or
colonial enactments that were not In force
In 1913.
The award Of The Hague tribunal, strip
ped Of all verbiage and circumlocution'
decided that American
The Haoue fishermen were bound by
the treaty. But the tri-
AWaIu. bunal held and awarded
that an impartial tribunal or commission
should he created to determine as to the
"reasonableness' or otherwise OF the
various ordinances to which the United
States objected.
The Hague tribunal based its finding
upon the ground that the discussion on
the ''reasonableness'' Of these regulations
required expert information and the prac-
ticaI effect OF a great number OF these
provisions in addition to the conditlons
surrounding the exercise OF the liberty
of fishing enjoyed by the Inhabitants OF
tho Tinted States Accordingly the trl-
bunal named as umpire and chairman OF
this hoard of experts DR.. p. c. Hook,
scientific adviser for the fisheries or the
Netherlands The United States nomi-
mated DR.. Hugh M. Smith. deputy COM
missioner Of fisheries at Washington.
Great Britain. Canada and Newlound-
land selected the Hon. Donald Morrison.
attorney general.
lions. DELAYS and costs of the proposed
procedure and 1t recommended to poth
parties to agree to an alternative, name
ly: That the unanimous opinion or the
any disputed point and that an arbitral
award thus would be equivalent to that
Of The Hague tribunal itself.
The idea Of the conference at WASH
ington. it is said: originated with sir
Newfoundland. Sir Edward considered
that although Newfoundland had won a
success in the award, 1t promised to cost
the colony $4,000 or more. which was
a considerable charge upon its meager
means. Canada and America could bear
such a sum readily. but Newfoundland
could not.
It may be mentioned just here that
nearly fifteen years ago Canada made
overtures to the United
The Treaty States with the object of
1000, more intimate trade rela-
Oh Ao0s. tions, and January II,
1897, the Olney-Pauncefote treaty was
signed by the British ambassador. acting
on the instructions of Lord Salisbury. and
by Mr.. OIney, the Secretary Of State of
the United States. According to this
pact all questions at issue between the
two countries which could not be nego-
tiated were to be referred to court
composed of nationals, whose number
varied from two to six. according to the
Importance Of the question at issue.
That the questions might be passed
upon definitely the court was empowered
to call in an umpire and, If necessary.
third. The United States Senate after
several months discussion refused its as
sent.
In connection with the foregoing the
United States favors the creation of a
court of arbitral justice in addition to
the permanent court at The Hague, hav-
ing the attributes of an international
court of law, and whose awards would be
based not upon compromise or the hazard
of political exigencies, but upon principles
of law and equity.
President Taft favors the enactment of
treaty with some great nation in which
both would agree to abide by the judg-
ment of this international arbitral court
in any and all questions that failed of
settlement by arbitration.
The United States and Canada have ar
rived at that point where they may be
friendS-closer friends or greater rivals
and the results of the commission which
has just now finished its labors at Wash
ington must be regarded as full of sig
nifcance for the future relations of the
two countries.
President Taft. it is opportune to re-
CALL visiting Passport, Me-, in the May
flower In July. in speech to an audi
ence In which there were many Cana
dams. dwelt upon the close commercial
relations OF Americans and Canadians,
and said: IF in the next year we can
come to an agreement by which our COM
mercial relations shall be closer we shall
think ourselves Fortunate.
President Taft later, in notable speech
at Albany, urged reciprocity treaty
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