Sir Julian
Paunceforte to Mr. Gresham.
British
Embassy,
Washington, May 31, 1893.
(Received May 31.)
Sir: With reference to your note of March 24
last, copy of which I duly communicated to the Government of Canada, and
to previous correspondence on the subject of wrecking privileges in the
Welland Canal, I have the honor to inclose copy of an approved minute of
council which I have received from the Earl of Derby, recommending the
cancellation of the order in council of November 19 last, as being no
longer expedient or necessary.
[Page 341]
Although your note of March 24, above referred to, is not mentioned in
this communication, I have been informed by the Governor-General of
Canada by telegraph that the minute is intended to cover it, and
generally to close the question.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Certified copy of a report of a committee of the
honorable the privy council, approved by his excellency the
Governor-General in council on May 17, 1893.
The committee of council have had under consideration the annexed
dispatch, dated February 27, 1893, from the British minister at
Washington, covering an extract from the Congressional Record, No.
59, of February 25, 1893, showing the amendment by the Senate of the
act of May 24, 1890, which amended the act of June 10, 1878,
relating to reciprocal wrecking in waters coterminous to the United
States and Canada, such amendment being the striking out of the
words “the Welland Canal” from the act, words which have hindered
the completion of the arrangements contemplated by that act and by
the reciprocal Canadian act. As explained by the Hon. Senator
Sherman, who introduced the resolution, the privilege (the Welland
Canal being so omitted) is to be exercised “on the lake waters, the
lakes running from Lake Superior down to the mouth of the St.
Lawrence,” a concession which is in accord with the Canadian
act.
The acting minister of railways and canals, to whom the said dispatch
was referred, observes that the passage of the order in council of
the 19th November last authorizing the exercise of wrecking
privileges in the Welland Canal by United States vessels was only
conceded in order to meet the wording of the act now amended and the
urgent wishes of the U. S. Government to bring its provisions into
force, such exercise of privilege not being in itself a desirable
one from the point of view of Canadian interests.
The minister recommends, inasmuch as by the excision of the
objectionable words in the United States act, the difficulty appears
to have now been removed to the satisfaction of all parties, the
cancellation of the order in council of the 19th November last,
above mentioned, as being no longer necessary or expedient.
The minister further recommends, inasmuch as the said order in
council has been communicated to the U. S. Government, that a
certified copy of this minute be transmitted to Her Majesty’s
minister at Washington for communication to the U. S.
Government.
The committee submit the same for your excellency’s approval.
John J. McGee,
Clerk of the Privy
Council.
Sir Julian
Pauncefote to Lord Stanley, of Preston.
British Legation, Washington, February 27,
1893.
My Lord: With reference to my dispatch No.
2 of the 3d ultimo, transmitting the reply of the U. S. Government
to the last communication of the Dominion Government respecting
wrecking privileges in the waters contiguous to the two countries, I
have the honor to inclose an extract from the Congressional Record
of the 25th instant, in which it appears that the Senate have agreed
to an amendment in the act of Congress of June 19, 1878, relating to
wrecking in coterminous waters whereby the difficulty which has
arisen from the inclusion of the Welland Canal in that act will be
removed.
I have, etc.,
Extract from the Congressional Record, No. 59,
of February 25, 1893.
Mr. Sherman. I shall be absent from the
Chamber after a little while, and I ask the Senator to allow me to
offer an amendment. It has been shown to him.
Mr. Dawes. Very well.
Mr. Sherman. At the end of line 8, on page
28, I move to insert:
That an act to amend an act entitled “An act to aid vessels Avrecked
or disabled in waters coterminous to the United States and the
Dominion of Canada,” approved
[Page 342]
June 19, 1878, be, and is hereby, amended by
striking out the words “the Welland Canal.”
If Senators do not know what the amendment is, I will state it in a
few words. Congress passed an act authorizing aid to be given to
vessels wrecked or disabled in the waters coterminous to the United
States and the Dominion of Canada upon condition that Canada would
pass the same kind of a law, so that the wrecking vessels on all the
lake shores and the waters of that region shall go to the rescue of
vessels of the other country. It was to be mutual.
Canada passed the same law; but unfortunately in the law passed by
our Congress we included the Welland Canal, which is a canal on the
Canadian side, and it is found that the two acts are not exactly
reciprocal. Therefore the two countries, although both are willing,
have not been able to allow this wrecking privilege to the vessels
of the different nations. I have a letter here from the Secretary of
State and other information on the subject, but that is the whole
scope of the amendment. By striking out “the Welland Canal” the
wrecking arrangements can be carried into execution by the two
countries.
Mr. Cullom. On the lakes?
Mr. Sherman. On the lake waters, the lakes,
running from Lake Superior down to the mouth of the St.
Lawrence.
Mr. McMillan. I ask the Senator if the
vessel interests are not entirely satisfied with the amendment he
has offered?
Mr. Sherman. Yes. I have here a memorial of
vessel interests in favor of it and urging prompt action by the
Senate upon the provision. It came to the Committee on Foreign
Relations so late that I was not able to present it in the ordinary
form; but there is no doubt it is considered a desirable thing by
the vessel owners and by the wreckers all along that immense line.
The amendment should be adopted in order to relieve the Department
from the difficulty. It is recommended by the Secretary of
State.
The President pro tempore. The question is
on agreeing to the amendment of the Senator from Ohio (Mr.
Sherman).
The amendment was agreed to.
