No. 567.
Mr. Bayard to Sir L. S. Saelcville West.

My Dear Sir Lionel: With reference to the correspondence which has heretofore taken place between this Department and your legation relative to the establishment of a reciprocal arrangement between this Government and that of Her Britannic Majesty for rendering aid to vessels wrecked in the waters between this country and Canada upon the terms proposed by the act of Congress of the 19th of June, 1878, I beg to inform you, in view of the fact that a bill is now pending in the Canadian parliament relative to this subject, that the President is prepared to issue the proclamation contemplated by the act of June 19, 1878, so soon as he shall be officially notified of the readiness of Her Majesty’s Government to accept the reciprocal arrangement tendered by the act of Congress in question.

I am, etc.,

T. F. Bayard.