No. 593.
Sir L. S.
Sackville West to Mr. Bayard.
Beverly, Mass., August 13,
1888. (Received August 15.)
Dear Mr. Bayard: With reference to your private
communication on the question of rendering aid to vessels wrecked in the
waters lying between the United States and Canada, I inclose extract
from a committee of the privy council thereupon.
Yours, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Extract from a report of a committee of the
privy council of Canada.
The minister of customs reports that no refusal has ever been made on
the part of the government of Canada to applications made by United
States vessels for permission to assist in the saving of lives of
United States citizens when in danger in Canadian waters.
The minister also observes that authority has always been readily
granted, on application to the minister of customs, when United
States vessels and cargoes have been in imminent peril in Canadian
waters, to use the services of United States tugs when no Canadian
tugs were immediately available to render services. The Dominion
government is now ready, and has been at all previous times, to
enter into reciprocal arrangements with the Government of the United
States for the coasting trade in the respective waters of the United
States and Canada, which would also include the wrecking privileges
and towing business of each of these countries.
The minister observes further that the recent action of the house of
commons of Canada in rejecting a bill brought before it during the
present session with a view of establishing reciprocity in the
wrecking and towing between Canada and the United States supports
the position hitherto maintained by the government in declining to
entertain the proposition for a measure of reciprocity in coasting
and wrecking, but partial in its character.
John
McGee.
June 1,
1888.
