711.428/763
The British Chargé (Chilton) to the Secretary of State
Sir: With reference to my note No. 618 of July 27th last6 relative to the Northern Pacific Halibut Fishery Convention, I have the honour to inform you that in view of the terms of the Resolution passed by the Senate at the time of the ratification of this Convention the Government of Canada find it difficult to put into force the Act recently passed by the Canadian Parliament in execution of the Convention.
In these circumstances and under instructions from my Government I have the honour to ask you to be so good as to inform me whether there is any prospect of the United States Senate, when it reassembles in December, being willing to withdraw the Resolution attached to the ratification and to ratify the Convention in the form in which it was signed.
I understand from the Dominion Government that unless such ratification could be obtained before the middle of November it would be impossible for the close season provided for by the Convention to become effective this year. As, however, the Senate will not meet until December it seems clear that it will not be possible to put the Treaty into effect this year. In these circumstances I have further the honour to enquire whether the United States Government would agree to a simultaneous public announcement by the United States Government and the Government of Canada, on a date to be agreed upon between them, that the close season shall not be effective during the 1923–1924 season.
I should be most grateful to receive an expression of the views of the United States Government on these two points at your early convenience for communication to the Dominion Government.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩