711.4215 Air Pollution/565a
The Under Secretary of State (Phillips) to President Roosevelt
Dear Mr. President: I have just returned from Ottawa bringing with me Mr. Bennett’s reply to your letter to him, which I enclose herewith.52 We spent an hour and a half discussing the Trail Smelter from all angles and in my presence he arranged for a conference this morning with certain individuals from Toronto representing the Smelter. I came away feeling that Mr. Bennett was impressed by your personal interest in the matter and would do his best to dispose of it. The reference in his letter that residents and officials in the State of Washington should bear in mind that any injury that they may have suffered is due to the operations of a corporation and not to the Canadian Government is, I think, only for the purposes of record and should not, therefore, be taken too seriously. He took the position that willy nilly the Canadian Government was saddled with the problem and had definite responsibilities arising therefrom. Since my return to the Department this afternoon I have had very good telephonic news from Ottawa indicating that the Prime Minister has taken this morning a strong position in his conference with the smelter people and will soon be in a position to renew discussions of the draft convention on more favorable lines to us. Therefore, while I never like to prophesy I am inclined to think that my trip will bear good results in the near future.
I also gave Mr. Bennett your message with respect to the St. Lawrence Waterway and the reasons why you feel it necessary to ask for some slight modifications in the treaty.53 He explained at length how difficult this subject had become for him owing to the fact that he was between two provinces, both of which were officially hostile to the St. Lawrence Waterway development. While Ontario had always been in favor of the Waterway, the new Liberal Prime Minister had recently publicly announced his opposition to it and to delivering the financial contribution which under the present arrangements Ontario has to make to the National Government. However, in the end, Mr. Bennett admitted that the relations of the National and Provincial Governments was a problem for him rather than for us. He assured me that he would discuss the subject with some of his Cabinet and felt that he would be in a position in about a week’s time to instruct Herridge to open discussions with me regarding modifications of the treaty.
[Page 956]At another conference with Dr. Skelton, Under Secretary of State for External Affairs, who has had a great deal to do with the St. Lawrence Waterway Treaty, I obtained the same impression, namely, that it would probably be advantageous if the Treaty was ratified by the Senate as soon as possible. Dr. Skelton’s argument was that since our Senate had not a very good reputation in approving treaties and conventions signed by the Executive, it would be helpful in this case for the United States to dispose of the whole matter before the Canadian Government on its part undertook to ratify.
In the circumstances, I shall be disappointed if I do not receive a call from Herridge in about a week. I shall not fail to notify you the moment he informs us that he is ready to discuss suggested modifications.
Faithfully yours,