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