711.4216 M 58/138
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Canada (Phillips)
Sir: Reference is made to the Department’s instruction No. 140, dated February 1, 1928, directing that you take up with the Canadian Government the matter of the construction by the United States War Department of the compensating works in the Niagara and St. Clair Rivers which were recommended in the report of the Joint Board of Engineers on the St. Lawrence Waterway on November 16, 1926.
In acknowledging the receipt of the War Department’s letter of [Page 48] December 23, 1927, on which the above mentioned instruction to you was based, in order to arrive at a definite understanding concerning the payment for these works, the Department included in its letter to the War Department29 the following statement:
“It is the understanding of this Department that the War Department will request Congress to appropriate funds necessary for the construction of these works and that the Canadian Government will not be requested or expected to pay any part of the cost. I should be grateful if you would let me know whether this understanding is correct.”
A letter dated March 12, 1928, has now been received from the War Department30 from which the following paragraph is quoted for your information:
“The understanding expressed in the last paragraph of your letter is correct. It is the intention of this Department to recommend to Congress the appropriation of funds sufficient to cover the entire cost of the work without participation by Canada.”
I am [etc.]