No. 232.
Sir Edward
Thornton to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Evarts’s note of the 30th ultimo, relative to the navigation of the Red River by American vessels within the province of Manitoba, and to inform you that I have transmitted a copy of it to the governor-general of Canada, calling his excellency’s attention to the restrictions placed upon that navigation.
[Page 507]At the same time, I take the liberty of stating that, in compliance with the request of the administrator of the Government of Canada, I addressed a note, on the 3d of September, 1875, to Mr. Hunter, Acting Secretary of State, representing that, although the Canadian Government had theretofore permitted vessels of United States registry, carrying passengers and merchandise, to ply freely between the city of Moore-head, in the United States, and Winnipeg, in Manitoba, it was a constant matter of complaint on the part of owners of Canadian steamers that they were entirely prohibited from navigating beyond the boundary line, and the cases of the steamer Alpha, in 1873, and of the steamer Prince Rupert, on the 5th of August, 1875, were cited as instances of this prohibition. I then asked that this matter might be taken into consideration, and that the same privileges might be granted to Canadian vessels on Red River within United States territory as were enjoyed by United States vessels on the same river within British territory.
Mr. Hunter was good enough to acknowledge the receipt of my note, and to inform me that the matter was under consideration. I have not, however, received any notice of the decision which may have been come to upon the subject, but am glad now to learn from Mr. Evarts’s note above mentioned that Canadian vessels may navigate the United States portion of the Red River on complying with the condition of having the cargo sealed or closed by a United States officer at Pembina.
I have the honor, &c.,