711.42157 Sa 29/434
The Secretary of State to the Canadian Minister (Massey)
Sir: I have the honor to receive your note of April 5, 1928, with reference to the negotiations between the Canadian Government and the United States looking to the construction of the deep St. Lawrence waterway. I note your suggestion that the position of the United States has been made sufficiently clear and definite to permit the Government of Canada to take the necessary steps contemplated and to discuss with the provinces of Ontario and Quebec the aspects in question. I entirely agree with you that there is no reason why at this time the Government of Canada should not take up such discussion with the provinces.
I note also that His Majesty’s Government of Canada suggests that it would be advisable that definite and agreed engineering proposals for the development of the International Section would appear to be necessary preliminary to any computation of costs or decision as [Page 78] to the order of construction or division of tasks and that a conference should be held between the Canadian section of the Joint Board and engineers representing the province of Ontario. Further that it would be advisable that such a conference should be followed by reconsideration of the engineering problems in the International Section by the whole Joint Board. Of course, the Government of the United States fully realizes the desirability of the Canadian Government’s consultation with the provinces and with the Canadian section of the Joint Board of Engineers. The United States section of the Joint Board will be prepared at any time to take up with the full Board and discuss and reconsider engineering problems connected with the construction of the International Section. I have the honor to suggest, however, that it would seem as though the entire subject of treaty negotiation need not be postponed until the termination of these discussions and of the reconsideration by the Joint Board of Engineers and that it might be desirable for the negotiations to go on concurrently with the examination of such engineers as their advice and assistance would be necessary. The United States will be prepared to cooperate to the fullest extent with the Canadian Government at any time for the purpose of accomplishing the improvement contemplated.
Accept [etc.]