Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1878

No. 212.
Mr. Seward to Sir Edward Thornton.

Department of State,
Washington, July 15, 1878.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith for your information a copy of an act of Congress, approved June 19, 1878, “to aid vessels wrecked or disabled in the waters conterminous to the United States and the Dominion of Canada.”

You will observe that said act is not to take effect until proclamation by the President of the United States declaring that the privilege of aiding American or other vessels wrecked or disabled in Canadian waters contiguous to the United States has been extended by the Government of the Dominion of Canada.

I desire to inquire, therefore, whether any provision has been or will be made by the Government of the Dominion of Canada for extending to American or other vessels wrecked or disabled in Canadian waters contiguous to the United States the reciprocal privileges referred to, so that this Government may, at as early a day as may be convenient, be placed in possession of the information necessary for carrying the above-mentioned act into effect, in accordance with its provisions.

I have, &c.,

F. W. SEWARD,
Acting Secretary.

[Inclosure.]

AN ACT to aid vessels wrecked or disabled in the waters conterminous to the United States and the Dominion of Canada.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Canadian vessels of all descriptions may render aid or assistance to Canadian or other vessels wrecked or disabled in the waters of the United States contiguous to the Dominion of Canada: Provided, That this act shall not take effect until proclamation by the President declaring that the privilege of aiding American or other vessels wrecked or disabled in Canadian waters contiguous to the United States has been extended by the Government of the Dominion of Canada and declaring this act to be in force: And provided further, That this act shall cease to be in force from and after the date of proclamation by the President to the effect that said reciprocal privilege has been withdrawn or revoked by the said Government of the Dominion of Canada.

Approved June 19, 1878.