No. 588.
Mr. Bayard to Sir L. S. Sackville
West.
Department of State,
Washington, July 21,
1888.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
copy of a letter from the Treasury Department, of the 10th instant, in
relation to an alleged discrimination against American vessels passing
through the Welland Canal.
By the twenty-seventh article of the treaty of Washington, Her Majesty’s
Government undertook to urge upon the Government of the Do minion of
Canada to grant citizens of the United States the use of the Welland and
other canals on terms of equality with the inhabitants of the Dominion.
On the other hand, the Government of the United States promised to
secure as far as possible reciprocally equal treatment of inhabitants of
the Dominion using canals in the United States connected with the lake
system of transportation. The Department is informed that such equality
of treatment now exists in the United States.
I will thank you to bring the matter to the attention of the Canadian
Government.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Fairchild
to Mr. Bayard.
Treasury Department,
Washington, July 10,
1888.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
for your information and for such action as you may deem proper, an
extract from the last annual report addressed to me by the
Commissioner of Navigation, relating to an alleged discrimination by
the
[Page 814]
Canadian Government,
in the matter of the navigation of the Welland Canal, against
American ports, American railroads, canals, and American
vessels.
It is understood that the discrimination still exists.
The British Government undertook, in article 27 of the treaty of
Washington, to urge upon the Government of the Dominion of Canada to
secure to the citizens of the United States the use of the Welland,
St. Lawrence, and other canals in the Dominion on terms of equality
with the inhabitants of the Dominion. But such equality does not now
exist in all respects.
Would it not be advisable to bring the matter to the attention of the
British Government with a view to securing, if practicable, the
abrogation of the objectionable regulations now existing upon the
subject?
I am, etc.,
C. S.
Fairchild,
Secretary.
[Inclosure 2.]
the welland canal.
Some complaint has been made in regard to an order of the
governor-general of Canada levying tax or toll on all wheat, Indian
corn, maize, barley, and rye passing through the Welland Canal in
American bottoms.
It was alleged that the toll on grain is fixed at 20 cents per ton on
all American vessels passing through the St. Lawrence system of
canals from one American port to another, but that on grain from a
Canadian port destined to another Canadian port the tolls have been
reduced the entire length of the canal system. On the other hand,
Canadian vessels passing through the Sault Canal are allowed all the
privileges of American vessels and are absolutely free of toll.
Reciprocity seems to demand similar action on the part of the
Canadian Government, or at least that American vessels should be
admitted through Canadian canals without the payment of any fees or
taxes in excess of the fees and taxes levied on Canadian vessels
under similar circumstances.
The complaint as to discrimination against American vessels has been
investigated by this office, through the several collectors of
customs on the northern frontier. The substance of the statements
received is to the effect that discrimination does not exist, except
in the case of grain passing through the Welland Canal destined for
American ports on Lake Ontario.
