England was the only
country which could benefit by such an arrangement. England, as you
know, believes in free trade, and has now but twenty articles subject to
tariff; the most important of these are beer, wine, spirits, tobacco,
tea, coffee, and soap.

With such a very small list of dutiable imports you can readily see how
easy it is for England to be the country which gives the best terms to
Canadian goods.

When this Canadian tariff was first made the other nations smiled at it
as a meaningless piece of legislation, but as they thought over it they
saw its true meaning, and at once denounced it as an attempt to make
England false to her agreement with Germany and Belgium.

England saw the force of this herself, and did not attempt to take
advantage of the reduced rates of the Canadian tariff.

This did not disconcert Sir Wilfrid Laurier in the least. He had put the
new law through for a certain purpose, and he was willing to wait
patiently until he could secure the desired end.

His opportunity came at the Conference.

After the Colonial Secretary had answered the premiers that he thought
it better to wait a while before federating, the Canadian Prime Minister
made a very earnest speech.

Having first stated that the time had come to take some decided action,
he said that he and all the other premiers were of one mind that Great
Britain should make an end of all her treaties with foreign countries
which hampered her trade with her colonies.

He added that if this were done the various governments would see if
some arrangement could not be made by which a preference would be given
to British manufactures.

These remarks met with the most enthusiastic indorsement from the other
prime ministers, who requested that they be embodied in a resolution,
and presented to the Colonial Secretary for parliamentary consideration.

Mr. Chamberlain therefore laid the matter before the government, and it
was thereupon decided to end the two treaties mentioned.

Notice was accordingly sent to both Germany and Belgium that the
existing treaties would cease on July 30, 1898.

Canada and the colonies are highly elated over this matter, for it is
understood that this is but the first step toward federation.

That the foreign Powers will be very much opposed to this plan is a
foregone conclusion.

The foreign journals are speaking very severely about it, and saying
that England is much mistaken if she thinks that such an