New-York tribune., 1919-11-23
Shall We
Give Up
Half OF
Maiine?
MIR ANDREW M'PHAIL, a
q professor at McGill Univer-
- sity, with distinguished

amazing theory in "The Montreal
University Magazine" reprinted in
this country by "The Boston Eve
ming Transcript" Briefly, Sir An
drew holds that at present Canada
is dependent on the United States
for her existence, as her access to
the sea Is in or through the United
States. Moreover, her outlet through
New Brunswick, or even down the
St. Lawrence, is restricted, as
northern Maine extends to within
thirty miles of that river. One of
the principal routes between Mon
treal and the seaboard runs for 100
miles through Maine, while the
others skirt the northern boundary.
The remedy he suggests is very
simple: Article 10 of Section of the
Versailles Treaty provides that "The
assembly (of the league of nations)
may, from time to time, advise the
reconsideration by members of the
league Of treaties which have be-
come inapplicable and the considera-
tion Of international conditions
whose continuance might endanger
the peace Of the world" Under this
provision the Treaty Of Paris of
1888 should be reconsidered and the
United States prevailed upon to cede
the whole of Maine north of a line
drawn from Megantic, in Quebec, to
Vanceboro, in New Brunswick. This
country, he claims, is Of little use
to US, but vitality important for Can
ada.
Routes Insecure
Sir Andrew fears that Canada's
bases OF supplies and routes to the
sea in this country "are not so Sc
cure as one would wish.
"Our access to the sea is governed
by the Treaty Of Washington, which
was signed on May 8, 1871, and ratified
in London on June II Of the same year
By Article 20 it was agreed that for a
term of years goods might be convened
in transit through the ports Of New
York, Boston and Portland, and any
other ports which might be Especially
designated by the President of the
United States,' without the payment OF
duties, but under such rules, reeula.
tlons and conditions as might be from
time to time prescribed This tern
Of years. according to Article 93, wa,
to begin when the Legislature Of Prince
Edward Island inter ALA had given {
certain assent and was to continue
FOR period Of ten years, but could b,
terminated by two years. notice from
either side. 1t Is all very we'll for tha
small but powerful province to dominat,
the Confederation. It was too mucl
at any time that the Legislature O
Prince Edward Island should have tn
power to decide whether or not Canad,
was to have any access whatever t,
the sea. A search Of the archives IL
Charlottetown would determine II thi
treaty ever was in force, but ther
is now at any rate an opinion in bot
countries that the provision has lapsec
cat the present moment there is
nice illustration Of the value to US O
our sea bases in the United States
England requires wheat, and we hav
wheat which must be sold. All port
except Portland are closed to US by
simple device. The American railway
are forbidden to carry Canadian graf,
or grain products without permi
from the General Operating Committee
These permits are sometimes granite
for small quantities, which in prac
tice are limited to occasional shin
ments of -four; but the delay and diff
Guilty in securing these permits max
the export of wheat impracticable.
Hasdicaps
"A single route by tho st. Lawrence
even in the summer, is too precariou,
The explosion In the elevators at Por
Colborne brought into prominence tn
necessity Of an exit by Buffalo. Th
Treaty of Washington may permit u
to enter, and clear, without duty. ]
does not compel American railways t
carry our goods. Upon this films
fabric our sea commerce is based. Can
ada is governed by geography throug
the relentless instrument of climate
The keeper Of lighthouse in tn
Newfoundland Labrador may continu
for time to clothe his women in films
foh h~,o