No. 372.
Mr. Blaine to Mr. Drummond.
Washington, August 25, 1881.
Sir: Referring to my notes of the 10th and 14th of May last to Sir Edward Thornton, in relation to incursions of Canadian Indians into the territory of this country, and your reply thereto dated the 28th ultimo, I now have the honor to inform you that I have just received a letter from my colleague, the Secretary of War, stating that on the 10th instant a large body of Canadian Indians passed Belknap, Montana Territory, on their way to drive the buffaloes away from the Agency Indians of the United States, and that the Agency Indians felt sore because these foreign Indians are permitted to ravage their country.
[Page 594]In view of the measure reported in your note of the 28th ultimo as having been adopted by Her Majesty’s Government to prevent the incursions of Canadian Indians into the territory of the United States, which have been the subject of so many complaints, I have learned of this new incursion with surprise and regret. The failure of the Canadian authorities to adopt efficient measures to prevent the Indians under their jurisdiction from making these frequent raids subjects the civil and military authorities of the United States to serious embarrassment, and imposes upon our citizens and the Indians under our control such great losses and injuries as are liable at any time to provoke grave disturbance.
I therefore beg to call the earnest attention of Her Majesty’s Government to the fact above set forth, and to express the hope that prompt and efficient action will be taken in reference thereto by the proper authorities.
I have, &c.,