Office of the Historian

Mr. Adee to Sir Julian Pauncefote.

Department oe State,
Washington, July 24, 1893.

Excellency: Referring to previous correspondence in regard to the reciprocal extension of wrecking privileges to vessels of the United States and Great Britain in the coterminous waters of the lakes and channels dividing the United States from Her Majesty’s Dominion of Canada, and in particular to Mr. Gresham’s still-unanswered note of March 24, 1893, suggesting a friendly and equitable understanding upon which the coincident legislation of the two countries in this regard could be applied in the respective territorial canals, I have the honor to inform you that the President, having decided no longer to await a reply to the said note, has issued his proclamation, under date of 17th instant, declaring in force the United States acts in relation to reciprocal wrecking on the lakes and waterways therein described, thereby meeting the similar proclamation of the Canadian act as communicated by your note of May 31 last.

I am happy to believe that this action will promote the good understanding toward which the note of March 24 sincerely tended, and for the carrying out of which, in the territorial canals of the United States, the President’s proclamation gives authoritative assurance in favor of wrecking by Canadian vessels.

Inclosing copies of the President’s proclamation, I have, &c.

Alvey A. Adee,
Acting Secretary.

Reciprocity of Wrecking between the United States and Canada.

By the President of the United States of America.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas an Act of Congress amendatory of an Act in relation to aiding vessels wrecked or disabled in the waters conterminous to the United States and the Dominion of Canada, was approved May 24, 1890,—the said Act being in the following words:—

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That an Act entitled ‘An act to aid vessels wrecked or disabled in the waters conterminous to the United States and the Dominion of Canada,’ approved June nineteenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, be, and the same is hereby, amended so that the same will read as follows:

“‘That Canadian vessels and wrecking appurtenance may render aid and assistance to Canadian or other vessels and property wrecked, disabled, or in distress in the waters of the United States contiguous to the Dominion of Canada: Provided, That this act shall not take effect until proclamation by the President of the United States that the privilege of aiding American or other vessels and property wrecked, disabled, or in distress in Canadian waters contiguous to the United States has been [Page 345] extended by the Government of the Dominion of Canada to American vessels and wrecking appliances of all descriptions. This act shall be construed to apply to the Welland Canal, the canal and improvement of the waters between Lake Erie and Lake Huron, and to the waters of the Saint Mary’s River and canal: And provided further, That this act shall cease to be in force from and after the date of the proclamation of the President of the United States to the effect that said reciprocal privilege has been withdrawn, revoked, or rendered inoperative by the said Government of the Dominion of Canada;’”

And Whereas an act of Congress making appropriation for the legislative, executive and judicial expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, and for other purposes, approved March 3, 1893, further amended the act of May 24, 1890, as follows:

“That an act approved May twenty-fourth eighteen hundred and ninety, entitled ‘An act to amend an act entitled “An act to aid vessels wrecked or disabled in waters coterminous to the United States and the Dominion of Canada,”’ approved June nineteenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, be, and is hereby, amended by striking out the words ‘the Welland Canal.’”

And Whereas by an Order in Council dated May 17, 1893, the Government of the Dominion of Canada has proclaimed an act entitled “An act respecting aid by United States wreckers in Canadian waters,” to take effect June 1, 1893, said act reading as follows:

“Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

  • “1. United States vessels and wrecking appliances may salve any property wrecked, and may render aid and assistance to any vessels wrecked, disabled, or in distress, in the waters of Canada contiguous to the United States.
  • “2. Aid and assistance include all necessary to wing incident thereto.
  • “3. Nothing in the customs or coasting laws of Canada shall restrict the salving operations of such vessels or wrecking appliances.
  • “4. This act shall come into force from and after a date to be named in a proclamation by the Governor-General, which proclamation may be issued when the Governor in council is advised that the privilege of salving any property wrecked or of aiding any vessels wrecked, disabled, or in distress, in United States waters contiguous to Canada, will be extended to Canadian vessels and wrecking appliances to the extent to which such privilege is granted by this act to United States vessels and wrecking appliances.
  • “5. This act shall cease to be in force from and after a date to be named in a proclamation to be issued by the Governor-General to the effect that the said reciprocal privilege has been withdrawn, revoked or rendered inoperative with respect to Canadian vessels or wrecking appliances in United States water contiguous to Canada;”

And Whereas said proclamation of the Governor-General of Canada was communicated to this Government by Her Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador on the 2d day of June last:—

Now, therefore, being thus satisfied that the privilege of aiding American or other vessels and property wrecked, disabled, or in distress, in Canadian waters contiguous to the United States has been extended by the Government of the Dominion of Canada to American vessels and wrecking appliances of all descriptions, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of America, in virtue of the authority conferred upon me by the aforesaid act of Congress, approved May 24, 1890, do proclaim that the condition specified in the legislation of Congress aforesaid now exists and is fulfilled and that the provisions of said act of May 24, 1890, whereby Canadian vessels and wrecking appliances may render aid and assistance to Canadian and other vessels and property wrecked, disabled or in distress, in the waters of the United States contiguous to the Dominion of Canada, including the Canal and improvement of the waters between Lake Erie and Lake Huron and the waters of the Saint Mary’s River and Canal, are now in full force and effect.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be hereunto affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this seventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-three and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and eighteenth.

[seal.]
Grover Cleveland

By the President

W. Q. Gresham
Secretary of State.