No. 349.
Sir Edward Thornton to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: With reference to your note of the 8th instant I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of a report of the privy council of Canada, [Page 520] which has been forwarded to me by the governor-general of Canada, relating to the desire of several Canadians to purchase cattle in Kentucky for breeding purposes, if they can be allowed to be taken into Canada.

I shall also forward copy of the inclosed report of Her Majesty’s Government.

I have, &c.,

ED W’D THORNTON.
[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 21st day of June, 1880.

The committee of council have had under consideration a note dated 8th June, 1880, transmitted by Sir E. Thornton from Mr. Evarts, respecting the wish of several Canadians to purchase cattle in Kentucky, for breeding purposes, provided arrangements can be made to allow them to be taken into Canada.

The honorable the minister of agriculture, to whom said note has been referred, reports that the action of the Canadian Government is to a very large extent influenced by the imperial act respecting diseases of animals, and the action under it which has been taken by the veterinary department of Great Britain.

That the consideration of Canadian interests, in view of the imperial law and orders in council, is to prevent Canada from being scheduled and Canadian cattle from being slaughtered at the port of entry in England.

That the difficulty in the way of carrying out the request or’ Mr. Evarts is the fact that the orders issued under the imperial contagious diseases (animals) act treat the United States as one country, without making any provision for lines of demarkation between the Eastern and Western States.

That the whole of the United States is therefore treated in England as a diseased country, and importations into Canada from any part are inconsistent with the privilege now enjoyed, of allowing the ports of Great Britain to remain open for the entry of Canadian cattle alive. The great importance to Canada of the unimpeded continuance of the trade in cattle makes the prohibition complained of, if not a necessity, at least a paramount interest.

That the cattle shipped from Canada among which pleuro-pneumonia was found to exist, were taken on board the railway train at Buffalo, N. Y.

That if a line, however, were drawn between the infected States of the East and those of the West, which are believed to be free from disease, and regulations framed of such a nature as to prevent cattle from the East going to the West, he, the minister, is of opinion that provisions might be adopted to admit of the importation into Canada of cattle from the Western States.

That any action in this direction, however, would be dependent upon a relaxation of imperial orders under the act referred to, of such a nature as not to make the scheduling of Canada a consequence.

The committee submit the views above stated for your excellency’s approval, and recommend that a copy of this minute when approved be transmitted to Sir E. Thornton for the information of the United States.

Certified.

J. O. COTÉ,
Clerk Privy Council, Canada.