Mr. President. underlying the building of this road aside from the military feature to which I have adverted? It was seen that there was a prospect that this road. finding its terminus at Vancouver. with additional help from the British and Canadian Government. in the way of establishing steamship linesto connect with the road and to run to Asiatic ports. might not only divert commerce that would otherwise naturally come to the United States. but that in addition to that. this commerce coming directly from Asia. if our Government could be impressed. persuaded. or wheedled into an arrangement. traffic could be actually taken from our own lines in our own territory and our own ports and diverted to the Canadian road. It was a bold assumption. but it has succeeded with this Administration. The foresight of the British and Canadian policy has been justified.