386 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



summary of the events leading to the appointment of the Com- 

 mission, Proposals for reciprocity between Canada and the 

 West Indies have been repeatedly considered in the past. In 

 1890 the Minister of Finance in the Dominion visited the West 

 Indies with this object in view ; the project then met with little 

 favour. At that time trade negotiations were being carried on 

 with the United States, and it was pointed out that the Dominion 

 could then consume only one-third of the West Indian sugar 

 crop, of which the bulk went to the United States. 



In 1898 the Canadian preferential tariff was extended to the 

 British West Indies. The Canadian Government recognised 

 the large opportunities that existed for the development of trade 

 between Canada and the West Indies, whom they regarded as 

 the natural customers of the Dominion. The West Indian 

 Colonies were at that time suffering from a severe depression, 

 so much so that their condition was a matter of serious concern 

 to the people of the Colonies and a grave problem for the 

 Imperial Government. Mr. Fielding, then, as now. Minister of 

 Finance, claimed that Canada had some Imperial responsibilities 

 in the matter ; he stated that the Canadian Government, having 

 the desire to assist his Majesty's Government in dealing with 

 these problems, had decided to extend the preferential tariff to 

 the West Indies without demanding any concessions in return. 



At first the effect of the preference was disappointing, chiefly 

 owing to the favourable market existing for West Indian sugar 

 in the United States ; but in 1903 the attractiveness of the 

 Canadian market was increased by a singular concourse of 

 events. These were : (<7) the adoption of the Brussels Con- 

 vention, which aimed at the abolition of bounties on beet sugar 

 in European countries ; (b) the surtax imposed on sugar and 

 other commodities imported from Germany ; (c) the preferential 

 treatment accorded by the United States to sugar imported from 

 Porto Rico, the Philippines and Cuba ; (d) the increase of 

 consumption of sugar in Canada. By the operation of (b) the 

 importations of German sugar into Canada, which at one time 

 amounted in value to over ^600,000, have since nearly dis- 

 appeared. The heavy duties imposed on West Indian sugar in 

 the United States have practically closed that market, except 

 under special circumstances, such as the falling off of supplies 

 from their own possessions. 



The combined effect of the four causes above referred to 



