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Indiana University Studies 
the exact meaning of the term elsewhere^ in order that the 
former might ascertain what the British Government must 
do in order to enable the President to issue his proclamation 
for the repeal of the discriminating duties. Upon definitely 
learning that this word was equivalent to “anywhere else’^ in- 
cluding even the British territories, Canning concluded that 
it was vain to enter upon any further discussion of the ques- 
tion, as this meaning of the term necessarily precluded his 
giving any declaration which would prove satisfactory to the 
President.^® He therefore informed the British consul-gen- 
eral, and thru him the British consuls in the outports, that 
the removal of the alien duties on tonnage and imports was 
not likely to be realized under the circumstances at that time.^^ 
To meet this unexpected action on the part of the United 
States, there were, according to members of the British Min- 
istry at that time, two courses open to the British Govern- 
ment: either again to prohibit the trade with the colonies 
altogether, or, to retaliate the alien duties imposed upon Brit- 
ish shipping, by subjecting American ships entering the enu- 
merated British colonial ports to the like duties.^^ Power to 
do the former was already in the hands of the King in Coun- 
cil by the authority of the British act of 1822. The latter 
course was preferred, however, for three reasons : first. Great 
Britain was convinced that a claim so extraordinary as that 
put forward by the United States would not be persevered 
in after explanation; secondly, negotiations were then about 
to be opened between the two governments, in the course of 
which a full opportunity for explanation would arise; and 
finally, a more comprehensive measure, giving a wider opening 
to the trade of other countries with the British colonies was 
in contemplation, such a measure as would show the United 
States that, if it did not choose to trade with the British colo- 
nies upon equal terms with other countries, the colonies would 
do without their trade altogether.^^ Doubtless a fourth rea- 
son, tho not admitted, was that world affairs were not yet in 
a condition to enable the British West Indies to subsist with- 
out American products. The trade was therefore permitted 
30 Am. State Papers, For. Rel., VI, 231-233. 
31 Canning’s letter, copied from New York Daily Advertiser in Niles* Register, XXIV, 
200 . 
32 Canning in Am. State Papers, For. Rel., VI, 252. Huskisson in Hansard's Parlia- 
mentary Debates (2d series), XII, 1106. 
