New-York tribune., 1911-12-09
BORDEN ON RECIPROCITY
New Premier Says Canada No
Longer Needed 1t with u. S.
DENIES UNFRlENDLY SPIRIT
Bryce Tells of Good Will Here
Governor Dix Touches on the
Same Topic.

Robert L. Borden, who defeated Sir VIII
frid Laurier on the reciprocity issue in the
last Canadian election and became Prime
Minister Of Canada, appeared before the
Canadian Society at Delmonicos last night
and explained his position. President Taft
had been expected to be the guest Of honor
al the annual dinner Of the society but
no declined al the last minute. and Premier
Borden was left alone TO cXpound the reci-
prccitv question Ambassador Bryce made
only "a brief reference TO differences OF
opinion on commercial policy, which, he
said. should not be allowed 10 affect
long-standing friendship.
The gisi Of Mr. BorGens explanation was
that Canada no longer needed reciprocity
with the United States. She mad kept open
for many years a standing offer for reel
procity with this country and had felt that
her existence depended on the commercial
good will Of the United states. In the
course Of the years however, in which
America had refused reciprocity, an indo-
pendept scheme Of Development had grown
up IN Canada, and when this country han
Al last offered reciprocity the Canadians
had been the ones to refuse.
Canada possesses an area slightly great
or than that of the United States said
th. Prime Minister, but rs you know, only
fractional part Of It has been developed
and our population is less than one-twelfth
Of YOUR own. But the abundance OF our
resources and opportunities has been so
amply demonstrated and our progress has
been so marked during the last thirty years
H.
material greatness Of his country"
Directly attacking, then, the reciprocity
question, he said:
Permit me TO assure you that the result
of the recent election I'm Canada was not
due in any sense or i'm any respect 10 q
spirit Of unfriendliness TO TINS great co"n-
Try. .,.,,,, oar
tainty that no such spirit exists. rom rom
lS.S 10 1881 Canada had placed ana kept
upon her statute hook stanoine GIier 10
the United States of reciprocity ia nat
ursl products. During all that peflod !ou
declined TO entertain the offer, ana S nS
Canadian could deny your perez a,iev- di,u
ing as YOU did, that il was in the lhteress
OF your people in the early days OF our our
development and progress we lI1aSa,,CJ I1atSnJ
that We were almost completely ,utpenu
ent ,ipon Vour markets. and when the
reciprocity treaty of 1864 was deno9nceo III
1906 a feeling of despair preNaheu III "O'''0
/
That feeling has long since passed ave-.
and never will return. For thirty. years
and more we have foNowed CERTAIN Hd
tional ideals and policies when We hrni,S
intend 10 p,Irsue and continue IN the lu-
ture We reached the conclusion that .S LnSe
recent proposals were mconslstehL VIZ ~
those ideals and policies. MorcoNe[, we
entirely disbelieVe in the framing or TAR
jTs IN diplomatic methods. That system
has been tested between dluSIeHl SS,,h
under the British flag. notably IN So0on
.srics an1 tho results have been lar
Nav / he permitted to express my per-
sonai convection that in the interest," OF
GOOD relations between oJu- countries IL -
better that each should n.'intain and pre-
serve unhaInpered TO the fullest extent tne
control Of its fiscal policy Ano assuItuIS
good relations between the two countries
do not depend upon the existence OF any
particular form of reciprocal trade feiS-
lions No press, however Jaundiced, can
lead me 10 accept any such conclusion.
ask YOU to believe that the recent de-
Csion did no; proceed from any oeslIe 80 ~
wears we have bought your products 10 tne
amount of 81. Bioooo00 and sold 70 you lo our our
own products 10 the amount OF SSbS,uoJooy;;
leaving I'M yolrr favor trade balance OF
SefSOOOO0d I'm other words, one Canadian
huys from you as much as tWenty-siX OF
your citizens. buy from us. ,,.,..
Last Year We imported from the Inten
states commodities 10 the amount or We
1000. and IN tue same year We SOLD 10 you
our products 10 the value of AniOnDj only
laSt ten Years a tTado balance Of ST,0D,GP,
which has gone TO pay in part the balance
which YOU hold against US
Our producers are met at your customs
house with an average tariff Of about 45
per cent. We meet you with an average
tariff Of less than 26 per cent. our aver
age duties against Imports from the United
States are less than our average duties on
imports from Great Britain trust that
this brief summary will convince you that
Canada has not Disseminated against her
neighbor.
Ieq me say that L recognize the duty of
Canada 70 become more and more bond
of good will and friendship between this
great republic and our empire. 1t may
well be said that for the cause of kinship
and ncighborliness Canada owes this to
you: but ] would rather put il on this
higher ground. that itor the cause OF Chris
tiauitv and civilization she owes 81 10 her
self II I may recall some words that
come 10 me from the memories of my boy
hood DAYS. let mo say this In conclusion:
AS long as the rivers shall flow 10 the
ocean. as long as the mountains shall cast
their shadows across the valleys, as long
tNe heavens shall nourish the stars LET