711.428/494
The British Chargé (Barclay) to the Acting Secretary of State
Memorandum
His Britannic Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires presents his compliments to the Acting Secretary of State and has the honour to inform him that a communication has been received from the Governor General of Canada stating that His Majesty’s Ministers are informed that the United States Government have found it desirable to submit to the legislature of the State of Washington the Draft Treaty and Regulation2 prepared by the Internal [International] Fisheries Commission which considered the settlement of the outstanding fisheries questions between Canada and the United States, although the Federal Governments of both countries have not yet finally dealt with the Treaty and Regulations.
The Duke of Devonshire adds that the proposed Treaty and Regulation have not yet been made public in Canada and that in view of the work of the Salmon Fishery and the Canning Industry for the next season being about to commence, the Minister of Naval Service is most anxious that those engaged in the fishing industry should be informed of the regulations in the Treaty proposed.
The Canadian Government propose that the Draft of the Fraser River Regulations and the substance of the terms of the Draft Treaty should be made public this week by both Governments, but that until both Governments have finally considered the report of the Commission and arrangements made for its publication agreed upon, no portion of it should be made public.
The Governor General of Canada would be grateful for a reply to the above at the earliest possible convenience of the United States Government.
- Ibid., pp. 476 ff.↩