APPENDIX II 173

1s it might temporarily be put in abeyance by an
agreement in the nature of a treaty terminable at
short notice.
(D1.)—1 can answer this only in a general way ;
but in a general way 1 may say that there is a prevailing
 unwillingness on the part of Canadians, both
British and French, to resign any part of their selfgovernment.

(D2.)—I should say that an Imperial tariff arrangement
 must be by concurrent legislation, and that
Canada is unlikely to surrender for any term of
years the control of its own tariff.

(D 3.)—Not for a minute.
But not 1 per cent. of those who shout for Mr.
Chamberlain for local political purposes imagine that
any such limitation is contemplated. If the position
were taken up it would not stand one election.
(D 4.)—If there is a preference it will have to be in
the form of a commercial treaty between Canada and
Great Britain. Whatever the conditions of this treaty
may be, they will be loyally adhered to by Canada.
(D 5.)—Your question implies a bargain. ‘The
sacrifice you speak of would have to be considered
as one of the conditions of such a bargain, but would
not be a factor if Britain should extend us a voluntary
preference, such as Canada gives to her.
(F.)—When the Duke of Devonshire suggested
that the scheme entailed some sacrifice of independence,
 he was received with a howl of derision here.
Few realised, or do now, that a commercial treaty
with the Mother Country largely based on sentimental
 grounds would be in a very different position
from a commercial treaty with a foreign country which
can be broken or amended the moment it pays to do
so. Laurier and those who think with him are opposed
to anything, fiscal, defensive, or political, that would
in any way tend to diminish Canadian freedom of action.