Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President, Transmitted to Congress, December 4, 1893

Mr. Gresham to Sir Julian Pauncefote.

Department of State,
Washington, October 21, 1893.

Excellency: Referring to your note of the 31st of August last in regard to the matter of instructions by the U. S. Treasury Department to authorize the necessary towing incidental to the wrecking and salvage contemplated by the act of Congress and to provide for the relaxation of the customs laws, I have the honor to inclose for the information of the Canadian Government, copies of a circular issued by the Treasury Department on the 5th instant, relative to the reciprocal privileges which are to be enjoyed by the vessels of the two countries engaged in aiding vessels wrecked or disabled in waters conterminous to the United States and Canada.

I have, etc.,

W. Q. Gresham.

[Circular.]

Reciprocity of wrecking between the United States and Canada.

Treasury Department,
Washington, D. C., October 5, 1893.

To collectors of customs and others:

The attention of collectors and other officers of the customs upon the northern frontiers of the United States is invited to the President’s proclamation, dated July 17, 1893, relative to reciprocity of wrecking between the United States and Canada.

The Acting Secretary of State, under date of the 30th ultimo, recommends that further regulations regarding the matter be promulgated by this Department, and states that during the visit of the Canadian commissioners to Washington in October last the subject of reciprocal privileges in wrecking was under consideration, and that a declaration was then made on the part of the Government of the United States that under the act of Congress, approved May 24, 1890, relating to vessels wrecked or disabled in the waters conterminous to the United States and Canada, the aid and assistance provided for in said act includes all necessary towing incident to said aid and assistance, and that nothing in the coasting or customs laws of this country restricts the salving operations of such vessels and their appliances.

The proclamation, and the act of May 24, 1890, on which it was based, are embodied in this Department’s Circular No. 114, dated July 28, 1893, and should be construed and observed by all customs officers in such a manner as to give due effect to the declaration aforesaid, in case of Canadian vessels and wrecking appliances rendering 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 improvements of the waters between Lake Erie and Lake Huron and the waters of the St. Marys river and canal. In case of doubt as to the action which should be taken in any case the Department will give special instructions.

Similar regulations have been made by the Canadian Government.

C. S. Hamlin,
Acting Secretary.