The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-04-21
CANADA Is FAVORABLE
WILL RATIFY RECIPROCITY ~
WE DO.
But Until Then the Fight Against
Treaty Will Continue in
Canadian House.

Ottawa. Canada. A favorable re-
port on the reciprocity agreement with
the United States is looked for by
members of the dominion government
not long after parliament reassembles
on Wednesday.
The rapid progress being made at
Washington and the prediction that
the agreement will be before the SEN
ate by next Thursday, have been noted
here with satisfaction by the govern.
ment's supporters.
Settlement of the reciprocity issue
in Canada, they believe. now depends
primarily upon action at Washington.
Any assurance that congress will rat.
ify the agreement may be coupled,
they say, with the assurance that the
Canadian parliament will do its part
as soon as the passage of the agree.
ment on the other side of the line is
certain.
Anxious to Hurry Pact.
The Canadian government, backed
by majority of more than 40 in the
house. is pledged and anxious to put
the agreement through as soon as the
conservative opposition permits a
vote. Ratification then by the senate
would be merely a matter of form,
since the governments supporters in
that body outnumber the converse.
tives three 10 one.
Until, however, the agreement is
ratified by both American branches,
the fight against it in the Canadian
house will be continued by Mr.. Bor.
denis adherents along the lines fol.
lowed the past six weeks. But their
stubborn resistance admittedly is be-
ing kept up only in hope that the stu
alton may be saved, from the conserv-
alive point of view, by a second fail.
ure Of the senate at Washington to
pass the American part of the pact.
There has been a decided modera.
ton during the last few weeks of the
fierce opposition at first waged against
the agreement. The resentment
aroused by i'll advised annexation talk
has practically disappeared and mem
bers OF the government assert that
some OF the conservative representa-.
tiyes OF rural constituencies have been
| Under strong pressure because of their
alleged alarmist attitude on the sub.
| ject.
Opposition Gaining Little.
In large centers like Montreal and
Toronto, where the protectionist ele.
ment is strongest, the fight against
the agreement is being continued by
conservative press and speakers. But
| II is admitted by some conservative
members that their fight against the
proposition in the prairie provinces
and in the non-urban parts of eastern
! Canada will not prove to have won
them votes. Addressing his constitu.
ents in Morden. Manitoba. on Thurs.
day, for instance. w. ii. Sharpe. pro-
minent conservative member of the
house, admitted thrat he knew all he
had to do TO make himself safe in his
seat was to vote for reciprocity.
The prime minister is hopeful that
il ratification has not been actually
completed by both countries by May
IL, there will be such certainty of its
accomplishment within a few days as
to warrant his departure ON that date
for London. Otherwise he probably
will not leave Ottawa but will depute
Sir Frederick Borden, minister of
militia. and Hon. l.. p. Brodeur, min.
lister of marine and naval affairs, to
represent Canada at the conference.