The Cairo bulletin., 1911-02-13
TORIES IN ENGLAND FIGHT IT.
REGARD ALL NATIONS AS
FOREIGN.
MAKES FOR FREE TRADE
Reciprocity Pact With United
States Has Big
Possibilities.
BY william r. Stead.


the house Of commons this week have
been almost as interesting to Ameri-
cans as to the old folks at home, for
the question that overshadowed all
others was the reciprocity agreement
between Canada and the United
States. The question embraces the
greater question Of the future rela
items, political and commercial, OF the
British empire and the American re-
public.
The debates have been full of in
terest because they have brought III
to clear relief the fundamental dit
terence between free traders ano
protectionists. The former, who In
clude the ministeriahsts, laborites
and home rulers, enthusiastically
welcome the reciprocity arrangement
not merely because it is a step near
er free trade, but because 1t is Ger
tain to make for closer and more
friendly relations between the EN-
pire and the republic The latter, a
oispirited, outnumbered and defeated
minority, hate the agreement, bet
cause 1t makes breach in the tariff
wall by which they hope forever to
divide Canadians from Americans. In
Chamberlain's words. they declare
the agreement takes Canada oIt OF
the imperial cGibit and draws her int
the vortex of continental politics and
continental interests OF the United
Saes.
All NaIons Foreign.
To the tariff reforme3 every nation
that does not fly tie union jack and
own allegiance to King George is al
foreign and rival nation, whose In
ternational trade 1t Is to British in
terest 10 ttwaf-t and limit as much
as possible. AS Americans in this
particular instance are the foreigners
we have the spectacle of British
tories wringing their hands and tear.
ing their hair over the agreement
because it removes some of the ar
tificial barriers that have been set up
for the purpose of alternating Cara
dams from Americans and keeping
alive sentiments of antagonism and
mutual jealousy.
The American republic should re-
aeI uy1t not gnfi 70 la,
The evidences afforded by the last
three elections of the ascendancy of
the British Liberals. Every speech
made in the house this week proved
more clearly than ever that to Bril-
ish Liberals the American republic
is another fatherland, To the Lib
erals, the Americans are not foreign
ers, they are brothers, and their in
terests are identical. In nearly every
Liberal speech there may be dis
cerned passionate longing to undo
the mischief wrought by George iii.
and the tories OF his day by restoring
In one way or another the shattered
unity of the English speaking world
Reciprocity Welcome.
The reciprocity agreement is well
coined therefore not merely as good
in itself, but as holding promise of
realization in the future of the great
ideal of anglo-American reunion.
N another reason was wanted to
convince Americans that every Ame.i
can ought to be well wisher of the
British Liberals and an Ill wisher Of
the tories, 1t should be found In the
fact that the former are friends, the
latter enemies OF Irish home rule.
went down to the house of commons
last Thursday to sense the politi cal
temperature and to admire the new
frescoes in the smoking room, which
every American who visits London
this year should make point of see
Ing There found Devlin, the fidus
achates OF Redmond, whom Hea!y
dubbed the ''Duodecime Demos
themes Devlin is well known
throughout the English speaking
world as the rising hope of the Irish
Nationalists.
"How long have you been in parlia
ment?" | asked.
mine years." he replied.
"And how long are you going to re.
main here?"
1.-Two years more" ne said, "anl
then shall sit in the Irish parlia-
ment at College Green"
Therein Devlin expressed the hope
that the Liberal victory has given to
the Irish nation. | have never been
able to understand why an American
can regard without antipathy the
party which, as it's name implies, ex-
lists for the purpose Of frustrating
the national aspirations OF the irish
people.