Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Gresham.

Sir: With reference to my note of the 24th of October last I have the honor to inclose copy of an approved minute of the Canadian privy council which I have received from the Governor-General of the Dominion for communication to your Government on the subject of reciprocal wrecking in the inland waters contiguous to Canada and the United States.

I have, etc.,

Julian Pauncefote.
[Page 353]
[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 November 29, 1893.

The committee of the privy council have had under consideration a dispatch, hereto attached, dated 24th October, 1893, from Her Majesty’s ambassador at Washington, inclosing copies of a circular issued by the Treasury Department on the subject of reciprocal wrecking in inland waters contiguous to Canada and the United States.

The acting minister of trade and commerce to whom the dispatch and inclosnres were referred reports that a circular, a copy of which is attached hereto, has been issued by the department of trade and commerce embodying the acts of Canada and the United States, the proclamations issued by the governor-general and by the President of the United States as well as the circular in question.

The committee, on the recommendation of the minister of trade and commerce, advise that your excellency be pleased to forward copies of the circular to Her Majesty’s ambassador at Washington.

All of which is respectfully submitted for your excellency’s approval.

John J. McGee,
Clerk of the Privy Council.

Sir Julian Pauncefote to the Earl of Aberdeen.

My Lord: In accordance with the request contained in Gen. Montgomery Moore’s dispatch, No. 47, of the 25th August last, I transmitted to the United States Secretary of State a copy of the certified report of the privy council of Canada which was therein contained, respecting reciprocal wrecking privileges in the inland waters contiguous to Canada and the United States.

I have now the honor to inclose copies of a circular* issued by the Treasury Department on the subject, which I have received from Mr. Gresham, for the information of the Canadian Government.

I have, etc.,

Julian Pauncefote.
[Circular No. 11.]

re. reciprocal wrecking.

I am desired by the honorable the minister of trade and commerce to direct the attention of all persons interested to the following:

At the conference held at Washington in February, 1892, between delegates of the Canadian Government and representatives of the United States Government, among other things discussed was the subject of reciprocal wrecking privileges in waters conterminous to Canada and the United States, and it was then agreed that the subject should be dealt with by legislation on the part of Canada and by such instructions from the Treasury Department of the United States as might be necessary to give to the act of Congress on the subject such liberal construction as would include permission for all towing necessary and incidental to wrecking and salvage, and the relaxation of customs laws in so far as might be necessary to make the reciprocal arrangements effective. (Vide Sessional Papers No. 52, 1893.)

In pursuance of this agreement the Parliament of Canada, at its next ensuing session, passed the act 55–56 Vic, chap. 4, intituled “An act respecting aid by United States wreckers in Canadian waters,” and upon being apprised that the act of Congress approved June 19, 1878, entitled “An act to aid vessels wrecked or disabled in waters conterminous to the United States and the Dominion of Canada,” as amended by an act approved May 24, 1890, had been further amended by an act approved March 3, 1893, his excellency the Governor-General issued his proclamation on May 17, 1893, bringing the said act 55–56 Vic., chap. 4, into force on and after the 1st [Page 354] day of June, 1893, which said proclamation was communicated to the United States Government by Her Majesty’s ambassador at Washington on the 2d day of June, 1893, whereupon the President of the United States issued on the 17th day of July, 1893, his proclamation declaring the act of Congress above referred to to be from that time in full force and effect.

Under date of the 5th October, 1893, the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States issued a circular letter of instructions relative to the construction to be given to the act of Congress and relative to all necessary towing incidental to any wrecking or salving, and to such relaxation of United States customs laws as appeared necessary in order to give full effect to reciprocal wrecking, etc., in the waters conterminous to the two countries.

Appended are copies of the act 55–56 Vic., chap. 4, of his excellency’s proclamation of the 17th May last, of the President’s proclamation of the 17th July last, which embodies the act of Congress as amended, and of the United States Treasury circular of the 5th October, all above referred to.

W. G. Parmelee,
Deputy Minister.
  1. For this inclosure see inclosure to note of October 21 from Mr. Gresham, page 351.