711.42157Sa29/591½
The Minister in Canada (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 18.]
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I do not know, of course, what attitude you wish me to adopt in regard to the St. Lawrence waterway project, but in the absence of instructions I am continuing to urge the Canadian Government to agree to the appointment of commissioners at the earliest possible date. You will recollect that Mr. Kellogg’s note to the Dominion Government, dated March 12, 1928,25 suggested that the two countries should proceed with the appointment of commissioners to discuss jointly the various problems with a view to the formulation of a convention appropriate to the whole subject. Ever since the receipt of this communication I have been trying to get the Canadian Government to agree to such a discussion, but up till now without much success. However, I have had a further talk with the Prime Minister this morning and am beginning to be really hopeful. He tells me that after the adjournment of the present session of Parliament some time during the middle or end of May, he has called a meeting of the Premiers of Quebec and Ontario to talk over the whole problem arising out of the ownership of power to be developed from navigable waters. A favorable reply to his invitation has already been received from Mr. Taschereau, and Mr. Ferguson of Ontario is also understood to have agreed to attend the meeting. The Prime Minister is confident that he can settle to the satisfaction of the people of both Quebec and Ontario the disposition of their respective portions of the power, and that the moment this point is settled he believes the two Provinces will raise no further objection to proceeding with the discussion of the navigation problems.
In reply to my inquiry as to whether he would be in a position to agree to the appointment of Canadian commissioners shortly after the adjournment of the proposed conference, he intimated that he hoped he would be able to do so. He will not commit himself any further in the absence of precise information as to what our Congress proposes to do in tariff matters.
[Page 524]I hope I am doing right in continuing to follow Mr. Kellogg’s wishes in this matter, but I am counting upon you to let me know if I am not acting in accordance with your views.
Very sincerely yours,