The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-21
CANADA MAY CHECK
TRADING WITH U. s.
Conservatives Back Bill for
Economic Union With
Britain After War.
FOES URGE FREE WHEAT

Jan 2O.-Two questions OF
first rate interest to the United states
will be debated In the louise OF Com.
mons shortly. J. O.. Turin. LiOerai
member for Assiniboia. saskatchewan
has given notice that he will raise the
question OF the free admission OF Cana
dian wheat to the American market
and W. r. Cockshutt. Conservative mem
Der for Brantford; Ontario, promises 70
move a resolution favoring the economic
union Of the British Empire TO ngh
German trade after the war, Mr. Iur-
rims resolution Is as ollows
That in the opinion Of this House, in
order TO secure TO the farmers and
people al Canada the advantage or the
American market for wheat. wheat
products and potatoes. steps should
lie taken at once to put these articles
on tue free list In the Canadian
tariff.
Mr.. Turin will have the solid sup
nor, OF the Liberals and possibly nj one
or two Conservatives who represent gram
growing constituencies In the west but
the Government. elected TO office on the
almost similar issue OF ~cipro VIII
oppose IL, which will mean its certain
rejection. -,
As "A counter blast MIR. cockshutt will
move his empire preference resolution.
The argument will be used that Britain
rs at last about to her Tree
trade policy OF half "A century ana that
Il would he bad for Canada II. wheh
the British Government comes Ia give
"A preference TO Canadian wheat, AZ Coh-
seryatives here claim she IL almost GER
tain to do. the benefits to the Canadian
farmer should be lost through a free
wheat arrangement with the United
States. AS this contention proved to lie
one of the most potent arguments
against the reciprocity pact in WI. "
Is certain 10 again go a long WAY toward
satisfying the west Just now. more
especially in view of the recent admis-
sions on the part of British statesmen
that economic union of the empire AFTER
the war may be desirable.
The idea Of an imperial preference
arrangement has always appealed to the
people of Canada. The late Sir Charles
Tupper was It's pioneer advocate and the
Governments of Sir John Macdonald ana
Sir Wilfrid Laurie supported some such
policy, but the free trade governments
Of the mother country always rendered
an arrangement impossible. When III
1897 the Government OF Sir Nilfrid
Laurier gave Great Britain a preferen-
tial rate Il Mas supposed that the con-
cession would be met by a similar con-
cession to Canada Joseph chamberlain.
because Of his tariff views. was the
popular hero Of the Canadian people.
Liberals and Conservatives, and II was
confidently expected that the triumph Of
his views would mean much for the
Dominion. With the failure Of Chamber
lain and tariff reform and the growth
of "A low tariff party in the west tho
Canadian Liberal party turned once more
to the United States, however. and the
reciprocity pact with the Taft Admins
tration was the result. But again the
idea OF All economic union of the empire
1T some future date initiated strongly
against any arrangement with Washing
ton, and reciprocity was overwhelmed at
the polls. Now that there are indica-
,ious that Britain may go back on free
trade and the idea ~ empire preference
is being strongly reinforced by the part
which the overseas dominions are play
ing in the war. the champions Of eco
nomic union in Canada are confident
that their dream Is soon to he realized.
Mr.. Cockshutt's resolution will. II is
understood. have the strong support Of
the Borden Cabinet and the Conserva-
tives will support II To a nan The
attitude Of the Liberals. in view Of
their recent trade policies. is uncertain,
but II is altogether likely that the resolu-
ton will he adopted by "A very large
majority. Next March there is to be Il
gathering Of overseas statesmen in Lon
don TO discuss the question of imperial
trade, and the action OF the Dominion
Parliament on MIR. Cockshutt's resolution
will undoubtedly strongly influence the
deliberations