I have now received from his excellency copy of a report of a committee of
the privy council for Canada, of the 28th ultimo, of which I have the honor
to inclose a copy, and from which you will perceive that it is believed that
the ammunition alluded to is not in quantity in excess of what may be fairly
considered to be required for the legitimate trade of the territory of which
Winnepeg is at present the only port of entry, and that, consequently, the
minister of the interior felt himself not justified in detaining it any
longer.
[Inclosure.]
Copy of a report of a committee of the honorable the
privy council for Canada, approved by his excellency the
governor-general on the 28th of June,
1879.
On a memorandum dated 16th June, 1879, from the honorable the minister of
the interior, reporting in reference to the dispatch of Her Majesty’s
minister at Washington,, dated 22d April last, relating to ammunition
stated to have been imported into Manitoba in large quantities, and in
regard to which apprehension was expressed that a market might be found
with the hostile Sioux Indians now in Canadian territory:
That the subject was also brought to his notice by the commissioner of
customs, who forwarded to him a communication from the collector of
customs at Winnipeg, reporting the arrival in that port of two several
large consignments of ammunition, stating that he proposed to detain the
same until further directed, and asking for instructions as to what
disposal he should make of the goods.
That he, the minister, promptly requested that the ammunition should be
detained until some inquiry could be made with a view to ascertain its
destination, and whether the quantity imported, compared to that taken
into the country in other years, was such as to afford ground for
anxiety, seeing that it was possible it might be intended to supply the
Sioux and other refugee United States Indians now within our
borders.
That the results of the inquiries made have led him to the belief that
the ammunition alluded to is not in quantity in excess of what may be
fairly considered to be required for the legitimate trade in such goods
of the vast territory of which, it may be mentioned, Winnipeg is at
present the only port of entry.
That this view is entirely concurred in by Lieutenant-Colonel McLeod,
commissioner
[Page 503]
of northwest
mounted police, than whom no one is more conversant with the peculiar
character of the trade in the territories.
That he, the minister, therefore, having received urgent appeals for the
release of the goods from the merchants interested, has not felt himself
justified in longer detaining them.
The committee concur in the foregoing report, and advise that a copy of
this minute be transmitted to Her Majesty’s minister at Washington.
Certified:
W. A. HIMSWORTH,
Clerk Privy
Council.
