The Growth of Canada and Imperial Federation. 575 



LINE NUMBER THREE. 



Yokohama to Port Simpson, B.C. (nautical miles) 3,865 



Port Simpson to Churchill, Hudson's Bay (statute miles) 1,450 

 Churchill to Liverpool (nautical miles) 2,960 



Total navigation and railway distance 8,275 



Route No. 1. — Total nautical and statute miles 10,900 



Route No. 2. — Total nautical and statute miles 10,259 



Route No. 3. — Total nautical and statute miles 8,275 



The difference in favour of the last route over the first, or that 

 by way of San Francisco, is two thousand six hundred and twenty- 

 five miles, about three quarters of which is saved in railway trans- 

 portation. In view of these facts, I am of opinion that a better 

 understanding of our advantages as a nation competing for the trade 

 toand from this continent, will remove all desires onthe part of 

 Canadians to become one with the Republic to the south of us. 



Although it should by all honourable efforts be, if possible, 

 avoided, it is not improbable that the future keen competition 

 between the United States and Canada, may produce a sort of com- 

 mercial hostility between the two countries. Should this ever come 

 to pass, Canada would find many advantages in being a part of the 

 United Kingdom. Already we see a small cloud rising, and although 

 it is now no larger than a man's hand, it may, before another year 

 elapses, break into storms of international strife. The Fisheries 

 clauses of the Washington Treaty are no longer in force, and if 

 American fishermen carry out their already expressed determination 

 to enter Canadian waters we may find cause to call upon England 

 to aid Canada in defending the honour of the British flag on this 

 continent. Indeed, there are many reasons why even a closer 

 relation with the United Kingdom should be sought. 



It is plain enough from the language of Sir John A. Macdonald, 

 at the recent Toronto Convention, that whatever negotiations may 

 have been aroma- on between England and the United States relative 

 to the Fishery Question they have not been successful, and chiefly so 

 because of the latter's disinclination. He said : 



