The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-29
Canadian Premier Determines to
Force Reciprocity Through
Parliament if Possible.
TRIP ABROAD is ABANDONED
Indications That the Fight Over
the Agreement Will Be Pro-
longed and Bitter.

OTTAWA, Ont. April 2S.-The deter.
mination OF the Canadian government tc
ratify reciprocity wtts emphasized in par.
lament today by the prime minister SlI
Wllirid Iaurier. who declared that hc
would not go TO England and represent
Canada al the imperial conference or tc
the coronation OF King George in June
but would remain here to press the agree.
ment IL the opposition persisted In OBJ
structing IFS ratification.
The matter was brought before Darlia
ment by Opposition Leader Borden, who
asked Sir Wilfrld what his intentions were
III regard TO the approaching events in
London.
II deemed it my duty TO attend" re-
Piled Sir Wilfrid. land engaged my pas
sage six weeks ago. but have come tc
the conclusion that, should my presen ce
be required in Canada and there is every
indication that it may be, it will be my
duty TO forego the privilege OF attending
the conference. My first duty is to Can
ada,
1T would he unfortunate that any OF
the prime ministers of the self governing
British dominions should be absent from
SO important an event as the imperial
conference; ie ,,l II 1t is not possible for me
10 go, the FAULT VIII not nc mine. The one
thinG which prevents is the position of the
trade agreement with the United States.
The Line Is Drawn.
Mr., Borden has said no and his fol-
lowers ouer uncompromising opposition to
the ratification of the agreement I may
tell him that on this side we offer nm.
compromising support for the agreement.
He thinks il would be n ban 10 Canada
and "A possible danger to the empire, We
think 1t would be boon to Canada and
To tho empire.
'1t Is we'll known that under the rules
of the Canadian house IL Is possible for
the opposition to block a measure almost
indefinitely. 1t has come to us that the
opposition has such intention. The lob
bies have been fun of such rumors
''1 have In my hand a report Of the
speech delivered at the Associated Press
banquet in New York by William North
rup. M. p. one of the most important
members of the Canadian opposition. i'm
which he states practically that the op-
position at Ottawa will not allow this
agreement 10 be carried into effect I do
not know what authority he has to sneak
but ] am Informed he voiced the dcci-
sion Of the conservative caucus held only
n few days ago. II such is the temper
OF the opposition I think il win be neccs-
sary for me TO revise my determination
to go to England"
Opposition Leaders View.
81 think" said Mr., Borden. that the
prime minister might have regard not
only to trade relations with the United
States. but 10 trade relations with the
great empire 10 which we belong The
question must present Itself to the prime
whether our trade and other
relations with the United States are more
than our trade and our reIa-
tons with the empire of which We form
a part.
Under the circumstances. / trust this
prime minister Will reconsider the inti-
nation he has given and that at the con-
ference and the coronation Canada wilt
be represented as she should be. by the
prime minister"
Mr. Borden suggested that parliament
could rise for two months 10 allow the
prime minister TO go TO London;
Sir Wllfrid made no reply. but IL Is
generally accepted here ne will not 20
to England and that the tight over reel
procity VIII be prolonged and marked
with a good deal OF bitterness.