Show URGES RECIPROCITY j PRESIDENT TAFT ANXIOUS F FOR R RATIFICATION OF AGREE AGREE- AGREEMENT AGREEMENT MENT WITH CANADA I In Special Message to Congress the I Chief Executive Makes Plea for Speedy Settlement of Question of Great Interest to Americans Washington President Taft Taft on Wednesday transmitted to Congress a message message urging early action on the reciprocity agreement with Canada He stated that he based this message in deference to popular sentiment and duty to the ithe great masses of the AmerIcan American Amer Amer- ican loan people Tho The message follows To the Senate and House of Representatives Rep Rep- I I transmitted to the Six Six- ty-first ty congress on January 26 last the text of the trade agreement which had been negotiated under my direction by the secretary of state with the representatives of the Dominion of Canada This agreement was the consummation consummation mation of earnest effort extending over a period of nearly a year on the tho part part of bo boh h governments to effect a trade arrangement which supplementing supplement supplement- ing as it did the amiable settlement of various questions of a diplomatic and political character that had been reached would mutually promote commerce commerce com com- merce and would E strengthen th the friendly relations now existing The agreement in its intent and in inthe inthe inthe the terms was purely economic and commercial While the general subject subject subject sub sub sub- was under discussion by the commissioners commissioners com corn missioners I 1 felt assured that the sentiment sentiment sentiment sen sen- of the people of the United States was such that they would welcome welcome wel wel- vel- vel come a a. measure which would result In the increase of trade on both boUl sides of the boundary line would open up the reserve productive resources of ol Canada to the great mass of our own consumers on advantageous conditions conditions conditions condi condi- and at the same time offer a broader outlet for the excess products of our farms and many of our indus Indus- tries Details regarding a negotiation of this kind necessarily could not be made public while the conferences were pending When however the full text of the agreement accompanying accompany accompany- ing correspondence and data explaining explaining explaining explain explain- ing both its purpose and its scope became k kown own to the people through the message transmitted ted to congress it was immediately apparent that the ripened fruits of the careful labors of the commissioners met with widespread widespread wide wide- spread approval This approval has been strengthened by further consideration consid consid- of the terms of the agreement in all their particulars The volume of support which has shows that its broad national scope is fully appreciated and is responsive to the popular will The house of representatives taUves of the Sixty first congress after the full text of th the arrangements with all the details In regard to the different pro pro- visions had been before it ft as they were before the American people passed a bill confirming the agreement agreement agree agree- agreement ment as negotiated and as transmitted transmit transmit- ted to congress This measure failed of action Inthe in inthe inthe the senate In my transmitting message message message mes mes- sage of the of January I 1 fully set forth the character of agreement and emphasized its appropriateness and necessity of a response to the mutual mutual mutual mu mu- needs of 1 the people of ot the two countries as well as its common common advantages ad ad- vantages I now lay that hat message and the trade a agreement as part of the present message before e ethe the second Sixty congress cong and again invite earnest attention to the considerations consid consid- e a ons therein herein expressed I am constrained in deference to popular sentiment and w sith th a realizing ing sense of my duty t to the great mass of our people whose welfare is involved to urge on your consideration tion early action on this agreement In concluding the negotiations negotiations- the tho representatives of the two countries bound themselves to use their utmost efforts to brin bring about the tariff changes provided for in the agreement by concurrent legislation at Washington Washing Washing- g- g ton and Ottawa I have felt feIt it my duty therefore not to acquiesce In relegation of action action ac ac- ac- ac tion until the opening of the congress in December but to use us-e my constitutional constitutional prerogative and convoke the Sixty second congress in extra session in order t that at there shall be no break of continuity In c considering and acting act act- ing unon this mo mt mt t nt subject Signed WILLIAM H. H TAFT The White House April 5 5 1911 |