711.4215 Air Pollution/48
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Canada (Phillips)
Sir: In your despatch No. 182 of December 22, 1927,52 you reported that you had addressed a note to the Secretary of State for External Affairs, suggesting that the question of the extent of damages to trees and crops of property owners in the State of Washington from the drift of fumes from the Consolidated Smelting and Mining Company of Canada be referred to the International Joint Commission for investigation, report and recommendations.
The complaint of property owners in Washington whose property has been damaged by the fumes from the smelter was called to the attention of the Canadian Government by the Consulate General at Ottawa as long ago as June 1927.
If the matter is to be referred to the Joint Commission as suggested it will be necessary to obtain from the present Congress an appropriation to defray the portion of the cost of the investigation which will be chargeable to the United States. It is therefore important that the Department be informed at an early date regarding the attitude of the Canadian Government with respect to the suggested reference to the Joint Commission.
The Department will appreciate anything that you can do to expedite a reply to the note which you stated in your 182 of December 22, 1927, had been addressed to the Secretary of State for External Affairs.
I am [etc.]
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