Rose to Sandford (Assistant Under-Secretary)

I have the honor to acknowledge your communication of the 28th
instant, written by direction of Earl Granville, transmitting
copies of certain papers referring to the interests of British
Columbia, as they may be affected by a Treaty for Commercial
Reciprocity between the Dominion of Canada and the United States
of America, and requesting me to make such observations for His
Lordship's information, as may occur to me.

In reply, I have the honor to observe that from the tone of the
Presidents message, as well as from other indications, there
would appear to be little prospect of continuing, through
executive medium the negociations
which were begun last Summer between Canada and the United
States, and it would seem that any change having for object the
promotion of freer commercial intercourse between these two
Countries is more likely now to be effected by means of
Reciprocal Legislation rather than by Treaty. There do not
however seem any indications, at the present moment, that such
legislation is in the contemplation of Congress, and it may
therefore seem premature to trouble His Lordship with any
lengthy observations on the subject of the papers you have
transmitted, which were obviously written under the impression
that negociations were in actual progress. In view however, of
the possible resumption of negociations & considering it
important that all the Communities in British North America
should have an understanding with reference to each others
interests, as they may be affected by their future commercial
relations with the United States, I would suggest that copies of
the papers should be sent to the Governor General of Canada and
that the propriety of communicating to the Government of British
Columbia the proposals discussed at Washington in July last
should be submitted for the consideration of the Dominion Government.

It will be seen that both the Legislative Council of British
Columbia, and the Gentlemen on whose behalf Mr Hilmachen

signs, concur in the propriety of free interchange as respects the most
important classes of products enumerated in the former
Reciprocity Treaty and which were lately proposed to be embraced
in any future arrangements, as for example—lumber, coal, fish,
wheat, maize, hides &c &c.

Mr Hilmachen and his associates however, would seem to take
exception to the insertion of agricultural, dairy, and
horticultural productions, among the articles to be freely exchanged.

Earl Granville is doubtless aware that considerable importance
would be attached by Canada to the insertion of these articles.
Under the operation of the former Treaty, the free admission of
agricultural, and horticultural productions, & of animals &
other products, to the Markets of the United States was found to
be a very sensible advantage to the agricultural populations of Canada.

It would seem obvious that access to markets so extensive as
those of the United States could not be unattended with
corresponding advantage to the same class in British Columbia,
and I fail to see the soundness of the reasons on which Mr
Hilmachen, & those who share his opinions, rest their special
objections. Indeed I have little doubt that after a comparison
of view and a full understanding of the beneficial results to
Canada, in the past, from that portion of the Treaty, they will
be disposed to consider their fears groundless & to coincide
with the opinions expressed by the Council, not only in regard
to the articles of grain, but with reference to all
agricultural, horticultural and dairy productions. In almost
every other respect, the view expressed by the several interests
represented in these papers, would seem to be in accord with
those entertained in Canada on the subject of Reciprocity.

The interval of time, which will probably elapse before
negociations are in progress, may be usefully employed in a
comparison of views between the Government of the Dominion &
that of British Columbia.