Page:The Life and Times of Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt.djvu/371

CANADA AND THE MOTHER COUNTRY so intimate, that when one channel of trade is closed another opens and she is not depressed to anything like the extent we ourselves are. . . . We ought to endeavour to seek such commercial relations with other countries, as will not place our merchants entirely at the mercy of one or two countries. And this recalls to my mind the liberal treatment we have received from the Government of France. The French Government have, with the utmost liberality, admitted all Canadian produce almost free to their markets, and they have also extended to our shipping the same advantages which they have conferred on that of England. They have given to Canada boons such as they have not given to any other colony, and such also as are only enjoyed by Great Britain herself. A year ago we reduced to a certain extent the duties on French goods. We were immediately met by liberal corresponding action on the part of France, which met us more than half way. . ..

D'Arcy McGee—Will the Finance Minister inform the House whether there has been any correspondence between the Government of this country and that of France?

Hon. Mr. Galt—I may state to my honorable friend that no official correspondence could take place between a Colonial Government and the Government of a foreign country. The French Government, however, have in the person of their consul here, the Baron Boileau, a gentleman of great intelligence and of almost universal knowledge, who has aided us in the development of our trade with France to such an extent as must make him and the country he represents worthy of the warmest thanks of every Canadian. (Hear, hear.). . . Although no official correspondence can take place, fortunately the distinguished gentleman to whom I have referred has seen the importance of developing the trade of this country with France, and has pressed his Government to extend these facilities to our trade which had previously by treaty been extended to the trade of England.

"No official correspondence can take place," "however," illustrates very well the illogical, step-by-step English way of making constitutional change. Even so, the pace was becoming too swift for the liking of the Foreign Office, and when Baron Boileau undertook similar negotiations at St. John, his recall was politely requested. It is interesting to note that this method of negotiation through the consuls on the spot was taken up and extended by Hon. Mr. Fielding a half century later. 333