Evening star., 1934-11-18
By d. NJ. HALLIDAY.

D1 ~. W. nhLLADhIs
~LOSER trade relations between
Canada and the United
States, now being negotiated
~ through survey determining
what commodities may be ex-
changed without injuriously affecting
the interests Of either country. are ex-
pected in the near future, with strong
support being given for tentative pro-
posals in Ottawa and Washington.
Since April, 1888. when Prime Min
lister Richard B. Bennett visited Presi-
dent Roosevelt and agreed with him
ito begin q search for means to in
crease the exchange Of commodities
between our two countries and there
by promote not only economic better
ment on the North American conti-
nent, but also the general improve
ment of world conditions" the Cham
bers of Commerce on both sides of
the boundary have maintained joint
committee investigating opportunities
for mutual economic advances.
Negotiations Well Backed.
At a recent Winnipeg meeting OF
the Canadian Chamber, a resolution
favoring opening of trade negotia-
tions by the two governments was
adopted. In Geneva last September
the paralyzing effect Of trade restric-
tions growing from a worldwide
swing toward economic nationalism
was noted and condemned in report
adopted by the Second Committee of
tho NJ OF
der Mr.. Benefits presidency. Both
President Roosevelt and Cordell Hull,
Secretary of State, have emphasized
on several occasions efforts being
made by the United States to increase
foreign trade.
Conversations last week in Ottawa
between Mr.. Bennett, William Phil
lips. United States Undersecretarv of
State, and w. D. Herridge. Canada's S
Minister to Washington and the
prime minister's brother-in -in-law, indi-
Gated the first tentative steps toward
drafting trade treaty. How to har-
monte its terms with agreements BE-
tween Canada and Great Britain and
other countries of the British EN-
pire, which were entered into at the
Ottawa Economic Conference, IS the
big problem which the negotiators
face, but there is strong evidence for
the belief that there are many
chances for reciprocal trading be-
tween the United States and Canada
not offered through the Ottawa pacts
Of 1892.
This country's trade is largely with
her mother and sister-under-the-sk skin,
81 per cent of her imports and "a per
cent of her exports in the last year
being with the British Empire and the
United States. Moreover, although
the intra-empire agreements have
stimulated Canada's business remark
ably, there has also been a sizeable
increase in imports and exports across
the American boundary line.
Business Limits Plan.
Canadian business men are pressing
for avoidance of the world reciproc-
ity" in present negotiations, fearing
that it might stir memories of 1911,
when the administration of Sir Wilfrid
Laurier went down to defeat as polit-
ical opponents began flag waving and
croaking fears of annexation, making
the issue one of a choice between
"Old Glory" and the Union Jack
rather than one of more business or
less. Business interests are also en-
phasizing the anomaly of the two
neighboring nations drumming up
trade with distant nations when a few
concessions would reopen contiguous
| markets
Under the suggested treaty, un-
doubtedly Canada would find it neces-
sary to make sacrifices with respect to
United States iron and steel products,
textiles. manufactured articles and
fruits, while the United States would
provide more free entry of live stock,