CHAP. V] TREATY RELATIONS 1143
At the beginning of 1910, Mr. Fielding, Canadian Minister
of Finance, undertook informal negotiations with the German
Consul-General at Montreal in connexion with the surtax of
331 per cent. imposed on German imports into Canada, which
had formed the subject of informal negotiations in earlier
years! In this case, however, an agreement was come to
on February 15. This agreement was avowedly provisional,
and contemplated a formal convention at a later date, but
no such convention has yet been made.
Similarly negotiations were carried on in the same year
with the Italian Consul, and an informal arrangement, which,
however, the King of Italy formally approved, was agreed
upon. Again direct negotiations took place between Canada
and United States representatives in 1910 with a view to the
concession to Canada by the United States of the minimum
rates under the Payne tariff, which was ultimately arranged,
and in 1911 an elaborate reciprocal arrangement was made
between Canada and United States representatives dealing
with the same question. In that discussion it was expressly
agreed that there should be no formal treaty, but that there
should be legislation on either side, bringing the agreement
into effect. It should be noted, however, that in this case
His Majesty’s Ambassador was kept informed of the process
of the negotiations, while in the other the Imperial Govern-
ment had full knowledge and gave consent.?
Simultaneously with the reciprocity negotiations, arrange-
ments were made between representatives of Canada and
the United States, the Ambassador being made party, for
the settlement of the outstanding differences in the North
America Fisheries Arbitration.3
The conclusion of the reciprocity arrangement?® with the
See Parl. Pap., Cd. 1781, a reprint of a Canadian Sessional Paper.
* Canadian Annual Review, 1910, pp. 818-21. There was a proposal fora
Canadian attaché in 1892 ; see House of Commons Debates, pp. 1950, 2463.
But this was rejected then and also on December 15, 1909, by Sir W. Lau-
vier (Debates, pp. 1582-5), and Mr. Lemieux on February 21, 1911 (p. 4109),
eulogized the Ambassadors aid. ® (Canada Sess. Pap., 1911, No. 97.
* Parl. Pap., Cd. 5512, 5516, 5523, and 5537 ; House of Commons Debates.
January 26, February 9, 14, 21, 23, 28 ; March 7, 8; July 26, 28, 191L
