The New York herald., 1921-02-13

ton FOR industry IS to be maintained.
In twenty-five years the Canadian tariff
has been but slightly altered. and al
ways it has been lower than the tariff
of the United States. When Sir Wilfrid
Laurier took Office in 1896 the average
of duties was 80 per cent. when he left
Office in 1911 the average was 27 per
cent To-day 1t is 23 per cent
The t'ordney tariff bill has given rise
to lot of talk on the part or irrespon-
sible politicians about Canada indulging
In reprisals. but these may be dismissed
as IDLE. The Dominion Is not framing
its tariff policies in the light of what is
likely to take place in the United States.
II is framing them simply with view to
the protection OF Canadian industry. and
while of course the Wilson tariff brought
a great deal of advantage to Canadians,
the Dominion realizes that 1t is the right
OF the American people to adopt fiscal
policies suitable to their own needs. and
will take no offence at whatever Wash
ington may do toward taxing Canadian
products.
The Imperial Question.
The imperial question, or, to be more
exact. the position held by Canada
within the empire and within the sphere
OF international affairs. will take up
large part of the coming session Next
June an imperial conference will be held
In London. The original idea of this
conference was that it should be held to
determine the relations OF the various
portions OF the empire to each other and
also to settle such vexed questions of
imperial defence and the share that
! should be borne by the dominions in it's
maintenance and cost. But It is now
extremely doubtful whether these prob
lens can be more than discussed. The
reason Is that in the first place, the
Governments of the various dominions
as well as the home Government, have
been so occupied with domestic problems
that they have not had time to prepare
for the larger issues of the conference.
and in the second place, several of the
Governments without a strong mandate
from their respective counties (this is
particularly true of Canada and Aus
tralia) will not be in a position to COM
NIT their peoples to any new arrange
ments
Sir Robert Borden, who was among
those to originally plan the conference,
entertained the idea that the gathering
should be attended by leaders of the
oppositions in the various dominioins as
well as by the Government leaders, but
Canadian Liberals take the ground that
they will have nothing to do with the
conference. preferring to hold them
selves untrammelled to discuss its
actions and decisions on the floor of
Parliament. AS this opinion Is shared
by Mr.. Crerar, the agrarian leader
there Is little likelihood of Sir Robert
Borden's idea being carried out so far
as Canada is concerned.
Article X. Again.
Canada's relations with the United
States and also the famous Article XII.
are other questions that Parliament Is
to discuss. About both questions there
Is more or less of mystery. Last year
1t was decided that Canada should have
a Minister Plenipotentiary at Washing
ton. The decision WIS arrived at after
prolonged negotiations between Ottawa
and London, and was announced stimuli
taneously in the Canadian Parliament
and In the British House of Commons
But although Sir Robert Borden de-
clared at the time that the creation of
such a post was vital to the mainte-
nance of good relations between the two
countries as well as being q necessary
step In Canada's heightened status as
nation, no further action has ever
been taken in regard to it. Mr. Mel
CHEN, SO far as outward appearances go.
has decided to drop the matter alto
gether. This has given rise to reports
that the British Government objected
at the eleventh hour and that the ques-
ton Will remain in allegiance until after
the imperial conference. and it is un-
derstood that Mackenzie King, Liberal
leader, Will move to have any corre-
spondence that may have passed be-
tween Ottawa and London in connection
with the matter laid on the table of
the House, a motion which, IL carried.
may make some interesting disclosures.
In regard TO Article Y. the action
of the Canadian delegates at Geneva
has puzzled a lot of Canadians Cam
ada, It will be remembered, swallowed
the league covenant, Article X. and
all, without hardly n protest. The press
teemed with rebukes Of the United
States Senate for daring to question
what was done at Paris, and the idea
that Article Y. involved any obligation
that could not be undertaken with a
light heart was secuted. Then without
warning, Canada's delegates took the
initiative at Geneva to have the IA
nous clause struck out. Parliament is
somewhat perplexed by this, and will
likely demand to know how il comes
that what the Government recommend
ed last year as necessary to peace and
national honor should few months
later be attacked as containing germs
Of the greatest danger.
Taken as q whole, therefore. the ses-
sion (which opens on Monday will be
one of the greatest moment for the
Dominion. Quite apart from the gem
cral election which it is no unlilxtly to
compel, IL will deal with questions that
have vital bearing on the country's
political future.