Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-10

that the ST. Lawrence River develop
ment is something which the United
States dearly desires, and the Canadian
Liberals have conceived the idea of
linking the two subjects together and
trading" with us-giving Canada s
consent to the waterways in exchange
for reciprocity.
FOredOomed to Failure.
Such a scheme is foredoomed to
failure. The Canadian reciprocity
issue nearly wrecked the Taft admin
istration, and it's revival now would be
fatal to Mr.. Coolidge in the very sec.
tons of the country where he most
needs strength-the agricultural
States. The President is fighting shy
of being drawn into it. His only
recent utterance on the subject was
carefully guarded. He said that he
should want to consider reciprocity
very carefully before expressing any
opinion. This statement scarcely
justified the Interpretation given to
it in Canada-that Mr.. Coolidge was
receptive" to reciprocity proposals.
Various 'toy balloons" are being let
loose by reciprocity advocates to test
the direction of the wind of American
sentiment This is the Interpretation
which Washington observers put upon
the publication of the tentative
draft of a reciprocity treaty which
was said to have the approval OF the
Canadian cabinet and which Leaked"
into American newspapers a few days
ago. This treaty proposal tied up the
waterways project and reciprocity in
single document, and was accom-
panied with a statement that there
is little likelihood of Canada entering
into an arrangement on the st. Law
renee project unless a trade treaty
is combined with it."
Move Disclaimed Here.
The State Department knows moth
ing about any such tentative treaty"
In authoritative diplomatic quarters
here there are similar disclaimers. If
it is later presented to our Govern
ment ii is certain TO prove unac-
ceptable 1t is doubtful If 1t evolves
beyond the stage of newspaper head
lines.
Putting the Great Lakes on the At
lantic seaboard means as much to
American commerce and trade and
transportation as the Panama Canal
meant, and perhaps more. 1t is
dream as old as the Nation. But
there has never been. and is not now,
any unanimity of opinion as to the
waterways route. and if the st. Law
renee route is chosen, as the recent
Hoover report recommended. there is
no basis as yet OF an agreement with
Canada as to division Of expense or
division of control. Furthermore, vast
hydro-electric power development is
inevitably associated with it. and this
presents issues all its own tremendous
IL difficult of settlement. Who shall
own and who shall operate the power
plants? Chicago water and Great
Lakes drainage also figure in the
problem.
President Is Circumspect.
Mr.. Coolidge has been exceedingly
circumspect in his comments on the
waterways project In general, and the
st. Lawrence route In particular. He
has made no commitments. When
asked concerning the Hoover commits
sion report, he said he had transmit
ted it to Congress for its sinfornaa-
tion" When asked f lae conctrred
in its conclusions. he kaid he was I'M
able to answer because he had not
studied the conclusions
The President is proceeding eau
tiously. but &1e ~ reaay To SO ahead
{Eontinfled On Tixd PaEe.l