§ Mr. REMNANTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions, if any, were given to His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington to invite the Canadian Government to insist on equal concessions being granted by the United States of America to British and Canadian traders in the reciprocal trade arrangement now being made between the United States and Canada; and whether, if no instructions have been given, he would do so at once in view of Mr. Bryce's letter of the 22nd January, 1911, Cd. 5523, in which he states that he received on every oc- 584 casion a frank and cordial response whenever he had reminded the Canadian Ministers that it was right and fitting they should have regard to imperial interests?
§ Sir E. GREYThe answer to the question is in the negative. It would in any case have been outside the sphere of the duties of His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington to approach the Canadian Government as the hon. Member suggests.
§ Mr. REMNANTIs the right hon. Baronet still determined to wait until this treaty is ratified by both these countries before he attempts to get the advantages which it is admitted on all sides would accrue to British traders who were treated on the same lines as Canadian traders?
§ Sir E. GREYThe arrangement is not a treaty, and it will not require any ratification, and the legislation is purely a matter of domestic concern as far as Canada is concerned.
§ Mr. REMNANTAre we to consider that Canada is part of the British Empire?
§ Sir E. GREYI need only refer to the very explicit and loyal declaration of Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
§ Mr. REMNANTIn view of the unsatisfactory answer, I propose to call attention to this matter on the adjournment of the House.
The HON. MEMBERfurther asked whether attention had been drawn to the statement made by President Taft in his address to the members of the Southern Commercial Congress at Atlanta, Georgia, on 10th March, in which he said that when the United States Government entered into negotiations for the reciprocity agreement with Canada he instructed the Secretary of State and his Commissioners to offer free trade in everything; whether in the same address Mr. Taft indicated that the present reciprocity agreement was to be regarded as only the beginning of a new relation with their rapidly growing neighbour on the north; whether Mr. Bryce had reported to His Majesty's Government that these proposals have been made and their character; and what instructions, if any, His Majesty's Government have given in respect to that report, in view of Mr. Taft's declaration that the present agreement is only intended as a prelude to complete freedom of trade between the two countries.
§ Sir E. GREYThe answer to all the questions is in the negative.