Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 7, 1915

File No. 342.112Sm6/6.

The British Ambassador to the Secretary of State.

No. 6.]

British Embassy,
Washington, January 4, 1915.

Sir: With reference to my letters of December 29 and December 30¹ relative to the death of Walter Smith at Fort Erie, I have the honour to inform you that the Canadian Government has ordered a military inquiry to be held into this case, which is now in progress. At the same time the Provincial Government of Ontario has been requested to furnish a full report on the affair viewed in its civil aspect.

The Governor General of Canada, His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, begs me to convey on the part of the Dominion Government an expression of their profound regret at this unfortunate occurrence and to inform you that as soon as the inquiry is completed a full report will be communicated.

I have [etc.]

Cecil Spring Rice.

1. Not printed.